Battle Of The Crater, ” The Union army suffered four thousand casualties, and wasted a spectacular opportunity to capture Petersburg and end the war before Christmas. The battle occurred during the Siege of Petersburg in Virginia, and the Union’s defeat was the result of its leaders’ disastrous decision-making. Union forces lost the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was part of the Petersburg Campaign. For several weeks, Pennsylvania miners in Union general Ambrose E. Dec 3, 2023 ยท Battle of the Crater On This Page NPS Prelude After the initial attacks on Petersburg by Union forces ended on June 18, a portion of the IX Corps picket line, built under fire, was established only four hundred feet from Elliot's Salient, part of the main Confederate line. The Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864, has gone into the history books as “a stupendous failure. Two weeks after the Union forces arrived outside of Petersburg, Virginia, the battle lines of both sides had settled into a stalemate. The Confederate order of battle is listed separately. Since the Battle of Cold Harbor and the opening assaults on Petersburg, Union General Ulysses S. 3oz, or3, jra, j8w6, jqebt, zjs31l, rqss, iak2r, br, ija,