By the end of June the whole of the rival forces were concen trated about the Richmond-Petersburg defences, and Gen: A. P. Hill had already sallied out on June 21 to drive the II. Corps from the Weldon railroad. Federal policy and Federal strategy, surmounting the crisis of Cold Harbor, were, however, at last in unison. Grant had a free hand in respect both of his dispositions and his resources in men and money, and had resolved to use unsparingly the resources placed at his disposal.
On July 25 Grant resolved to weaken the enemy on his front by a demonstration north of the James, and accordingly moved a corps (II.) and two cavalry divisions across the river to Mal vern hill under cover of Foster's corps (X.). But Lee possessed the inner line, and the Federal detachment found two cavalry divisions in its front, and the Richmond defences had been strengthened by three divisions of infantry. The expedition then returned to take part in a fresh enterprise, which ended disas trously to the Federals. A Confederate redan faced Burnside's IX. corps iooyds. distant, and this strong work was to be de stroyed by mining operations. The mine was fired and produced a crater i5oft. long, 6oft. wide and 25ft. deep, into which the Federals poured (see FORTIFICATION AND SIEGECRAFT). But the troops could be got no farther before the Confederate counter attack was upon them, and Burnside's corps lost 4,300 men.
In Aug. Sheridan was detached to operate against Early in the Shenandoah valley, and in order to prevent Lee reinforcing Early another demonstration against Richmond was planned. But Lee again strengthened his left and the result of the fighting was a loss to the Federals of nearly 3,00o men. Meanwhile another attack on the Weldon railroad by Warren's corps was met by A. P. Hill on Aug. 20, and the possession of the railroad cost the Federals 3,00o men. A further attempt on this railroad by Han cock's II. Corps and Gregg's cavalry division at a point 3m. south of Ream's Station was foiled by A. P. Hill, now aided by Hamp ton's two cavalry divisions, and the Federals here lost 2,372 men and nine guns. The Confederates, therefore, still retained posses sion of the railroad to a point within one day's hauling by wagon to Petersburg. During Sept. another Federal enterprise north
of the James with two corps (X. and XVIII.) resulted in the capture of Fort Harrison near Chaffin's Bluff, and when Lee rein forced his left and counter-attacked his troops were repulsed with heavy loss. The Federals lost over 2,000 men and failed in the attempt to take Fort Gilmer, Confederate gunboats below Richmond aiding in the defence. While this operation was in progress on the Confederate left under Grant's personal super vision • Lee was apprised of attacks on his extreme right at Peebles farm by four divisions, which captured a Confederate re doubt covering the junction of two routes to the south-west. A. P. Hill prevented a further advance of the enemy by a vigor ous counter-attack which caused Warren and Parke (IX.) a loss of 2,000 men, of whom nearly three-fourths allowed them selves to be captured; for the ranks, since the losses of the May battles, had been swamped with drafted and substitute recruits of poor quality and almost insignificant training. The Federals had, however, by these 'operations pushed their entrenchments beyond the Weldon railroad westward and established new works within a mile of the Confederate right. At the end of Oct. Grant resolved to make a serious effort to bring the South Side railroad within his lines and deprive the enemy of this important line of supply. Parke (IX.), Warren (V.) and Hancock (II.) took each some i i,000 infantry with four days' rations on pack animals. Gregg's cavalry (3,000) were attached for the operation, and both Grant and Meade accompanied the troops. A. P. Hill en countered this force with three divisions (14,000) and Hampton's cavalry (5,500), and he contrived to hold two corps with one division and attack Hancock (II.) with his main body. The Federals were stopped when 6m. from the railway.
Lee meanwhile had been called to Chaffin's Bluff, where again Butler was demonstrating with the Army of the James on the approaches to Richmond. But Longstreet signalized his return to duty with the Army of Northern Virginia by driving Butler off (Oct. 27). In Dec., however, Warren contrived to evade A. P. Hill and destroy the Weldon railroad at a point on the Meherrin river 4om. from Petersburg.