XXIV Corps (ACW)
Encyclopedia
XXIV Corps was a corps
of the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
In December 1864, the white and black units of the Army of the James
were divided into two corps. The black troops were sent to the XXV Corps
; the white troops became the XXIV Corps, under the command of Edward O. Ord. The bulk of corps remained in the Petersburg trenches, but Adelbert Ames
' second division took part in both Benjamin Butler
's initial unsuccessful assault on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and the successful attack
the following January. This division was ultimately absorbed into the revived X Corps
in March 1865.
The remainder of the corps served in the Petersburg Campaign. When Ord assumed command of the Army of the James from Butler on January 1, 1865, John Gibbon
took command of the corps and led it ably. The corps took part in the defeat of Lee at Hatcher's Run
in February and were involved in the assaults of Fort Gregg
and Fort Whitworth during the fall of Petersburg
on April 2nd. The corps was engaged during the skirmish at Appomattox
that occurred just prior to Lee's surrender. During the Appomattox campaign, an Independent Division of troops that had served in the Shenandoah Valley was added to the first and third divisions. The corps remained in Virginia until August, when it was disbanded.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
In December 1864, the white and black units of the Army of the James
Army of the James
The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia.-History:...
were divided into two corps. The black troops were sent to the XXV Corps
XXV Corps (ACW)
XXV Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was unique in that it was made up almost entirely of African-American troops, which had previously belonged to the X and XVIII Corps....
; the white troops became the XXIV Corps, under the command of Edward O. Ord. The bulk of corps remained in the Petersburg trenches, but Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames was an American sailor, soldier, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War. As a Radical Republican and a Carpetbagger, he was military governor, Senator and civilian governor in Reconstruction-era Mississippi...
' second division took part in both Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
's initial unsuccessful assault on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and the successful attack
Battle of Fort Fisher
Two battles were fought over Fort Fisher during the American Civil War. The first battle was a failed attempt by the Union army and Navy to capture the fort. The second battle was a successful operation which led to the fall of the fort and the city of Wilmington, North Carolina.* First Battle of...
the following January. This division was ultimately absorbed into the revived X Corps
X Corps (ACW)
X Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served during operations in South Carolina in the Department of the South, and later in Benjamin Butler's Army of the James, during the Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg Campaigns.-History:...
in March 1865.
The remainder of the corps served in the Petersburg Campaign. When Ord assumed command of the Army of the James from Butler on January 1, 1865, John Gibbon
John Gibbon
John Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
took command of the corps and led it ably. The corps took part in the defeat of Lee at Hatcher's Run
Battle of Hatcher's Run
The Battle of Hatcher's Run, also known as Dabney's Mill, Armstrong's Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughn Road, fought February 5–7, 1865, was one in a series of Union offensives during the Siege of Petersburg, aimed at cutting off Confederate supply traffic on Boydton Plank Road and the Weldon...
in February and were involved in the assaults of Fort Gregg
Fort Gregg
Fort Gregg was a Confederate fort located near Petersburg, Virginia.The battle for Fort Gregg occurred on April 2, 1865, in Dinwiddie County near the outskirts of Petersburg.-External links:* at the Historical Markers Database...
and Fort Whitworth during the fall of Petersburg
Battle of Petersburg III
The Third Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Breakthrough at Petersburg or the Fall of Petersburg, was a decisive Union assault on the Confederate trenches, ending the ten-month Siege of Petersburg and leading to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia.-Fort Mahone:The Union IX Corps...
on April 2nd. The corps was engaged during the skirmish at Appomattox
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought on the morning of April 9, 1865, was the final engagement of Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and one of the last battles of the American...
that occurred just prior to Lee's surrender. During the Appomattox campaign, an Independent Division of troops that had served in the Shenandoah Valley was added to the first and third divisions. The corps remained in Virginia until August, when it was disbanded.