Swift Creek
Arrowfield Church
Civil War in Virginia

American Civil War
May 9, 1864

On May 9, Major General Benjamin Butler made a thrust toward Petersburg and was met by Bushrod Johnson's Division at Swift Creek.

A premature Confederate attack at Arrowfield Church was driven back with heavy losses, but Union forces did not follow up. After skirmishing, Butler seemed content to tear up the railroad tracks and did not press the defenders.

In conjunction with the advance to Swift Creek, five Federal gunboats steamed up the Appomattox River to bombard Fort Clifton, while Hincks's U.S. Colored Troops infantry division struggled through marshy ground from the land side.

The gunboats were quickly driven off, and the infantry attack was abandoned.

Result(s): Inconclusive

Location: Chesterfield County

Campaign: Bermuda Hundred Campaign (May-June 1864) next battle in campaign    previous battle in campaign

Date(s): May 9, 1864

Principal Commanders: Major General Benjamin Butler [US]; General P.G.T. Beauregard

Forces Engaged: Divisions

Estimated Casualties: 990 total


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Virginia State Battle Map 1864
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Naval Strategies of the Civil War: Confederate Innovations and Federal Opportunism
Compare and contrast the strategies of the Southern Secretary of the Navy, Mallory, against his rival in the North, Welles. Mallory used technological innovation and the skill of individuals to bolster the South's seapower against the Union Navy's superior numbers
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Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress.

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