Battle of Suffolk (Norfleet House)

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Battle of Suffolk (Norfleet House)
Part of the American Civil War
Date April 13 – April 15, 1863 Location Suffolk, Virginia Result Inconclusive
Combatants
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders
John J. Peck	James Longstreet
Strength
45,000 total (US and CS)	45,000 total (US and CS)
Casualties
1,160 for entire siege (US and CS)	1,160 for entire siege (US and CS)

Longstreet's Tidewater Operations
Fort Anderson – Washington – Suffolk (Norfleet House) – Suffolk (Hill's Point)

The Battle of Suffolk at the Norfleet House Battery took place from April 13 to April 15, 1863, in Suffolk, Virginia, as part of Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's Tidewater operations during the American Civil War.

In cooperation with Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's advance on Washington, North Carolina, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet with divisions under Maj. Gens. John Bell Hood and George Pickett divisions besieged the Union garrison at Suffolk commanded by Brig. Gen. John J. Peck. The Union works were formidable and manned by 25,000 men, opposed to Longstreet's 20,000. On April 13, the Confederate troops pushed their left flank to the Nansemond River and constructed a battery on Hill's Point, which closed off the garrison to Union shipping. On April 14, Union gunboats attempted to run the batteries at the Norfleet House slightly upstream, but Mount Washington was crippled. The Federals, at the same time, constructed batteries to command the Confederate works at Norfleet House. On April 15, these batteries were unmasked and opened fire, driving the Confederates out of this important position.

[edit] References

• National Park Service battle description