Petersburg campaign involved more than 180,000 soldiers and produced some 60,000 casualties.
The armies at Petersburg were in near-constant transition, making the determination of army strength a moving target. Overall, the Union's military strength was superior to that of the Confederates by almost two-to-one for most of the campaign. On June 15, 1864, the Petersburg campaign began when General William F. Smith moved his 10,000 Union troops against the Confederate defenders, a few thousand armed old men and boys commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard. Despite their smaller numbers, the Confederate city's physical defenses held. Even at the end of the campaign, on April 2, 1865, Lee evacuated more than 50,000 men out of Richmond and Petersburg, while Grant's combined army numbered at least 110,000 at the time. Although figures are hard to come by figures, the best estimates suggest 42,000 Union precise casualties and 28,000 Confederate casualties, in total.
The Petersburg campaign lasted 292 days; involved 108 separate battles and engagements; involved more than 180,000 soldiers; and produced some 60,000 casualties. Regarding the end of this historic campaign, although he was outnumbered nearly two to one, General Lee was able to defend Petersburg and Richmond for many months. By the spring of 1865, however, Confederate troops were hungry, exposed, and desert. Union victories in March and on April 1 led to the Confederates surrendering both Petersburg and Richmond. Although Union troops greatly outnumbered Confederate troops, it took months for the North to achieve victory. And the human and material losses caused by this campaign are immense, leaving the wounds of war that cannot be healed. In particular, the large number of casualties and sacrifices has become one of the facts about the Petersburg campaign.
