Siege of Suffolk

Part of the American Civil War

Date	April 11 – May 4, 1863
Location	Suffolk, Virginia
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

United States

Confederate States

Commanders and leaders

John Peck

James Longstreet

Strength

20,000

25,000

Casualties and losses

44 killed
202 wounded
14 missing
260 total

500 killed/wounded
400 captured
900 total

Coordinates: 36°45′32.8″N 76°35′12.1″W / 36.759111°N 76.586694°W / 36.759111; -76.586694

The Siege of Suffolk was fought around Suffolk, Virginia, from April 11 to May 4, 1863, during the American Civil War.

In 1863 Lieut.-Gen. James Longstreet was placed in command of the Confederate Department of Virginia and North Carolina. Longstreet was given four objectives: 1) to protect Richmond, 2) give support to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia if and when needed, 3) forage and gather supplies for the Confederate armies, 4) to capture the Union garrison at Suffolk if possible. Longstreet had three divisions of troops from the Army of Northern Virginia and North Carolina.

Maj.-Gen. John Peck commanded the Suffolk garrison, which was part of Maj.-Gen. John Dix's Department of Virginia. The garrison was manned by one division from the VII Corps under Brig.-Gen. Michael Corcoran. Once Longstreet approached another division was borrowed from the IX Corps under George W. Getty, and a third division was transferred from the Washington defenses. Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee lent two flotillas from the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for naval support. Peck organized the Suffolk defenses roughly into a large circle, ringing the city. The Southwest Front was led by Col. Robert Sanford Foster; the Southeast Front was led by Brig.-Gen. Charles C. Dodge; the Northwest Front led by Brig. Gen. Henry Dwight Terry; the Northeast Front led by Colonel Arthur H. Dutton. Corcoran supervised the southern fronts and Getty supervised the northern fronts; river defenses were left to the navy. Peck had a good natural defensive position with the Great Dismal Swamp protecting the eastern flank and the Nansemond River protecting the western flank. The two navy flotillas were commanded by Lt. Roswell Lamson and Lt. William B. Cushing.

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Wikipedia