"Infantry strength around Petersburg/Richmond August 1864" Topic

I'm reading Catton's "Grant Takes Command". He says that in August 164 Meade had less than 30,000 infantry while Butler had around 17,000. Two corps where up north with Sheridan, along with two cavalry divisions. Anyone know how many troops Lee was facing him with? I know Early was off in the Valley with one of Lee's corps. Catton indicates that Lee had 8 infantry divisions. I assume they must have been slim indeed.

Try this site, looks good to me…

link

Hmm, order of battle info plentiful, but few strengths. Thanks.

I don't believe that number is accurate for Grant's entire force in front of Richmond and Petersburg. It might accurately reflect the strength of U.S. troops south of the Appomattox. In mid-August the battle of Globe Tavern was fought south of Petersburg while Deep Bottom was fought southeast of Richmond. The combined U.S. forces in those two actions totaled roughly 48,000. These totals do not include troops in the lines at Bermuda Hundred and troops in the trenches east of Petersburg.

While Sheridan's command did include the Sixth Corps and cavalry taken from Meade's army, it also included the Army of West Virginia and the Nineteenth Corps which had previously served in the Gulf.

Steven Newton, Lost For the Cause: The Confederate Army in 1864 (2000) states that as of 31 August 1864 the Federal Present For Duty strength in Eastern Virginia was 60,167. Confederate PFD strength in Eastern Virginia for this same date was 50,029.

Thank you. This shows that Grant's forces did not have overpowering numbers at this time, which is what Catton says. Grant made sure that the odds were with Sheridan in the Valley.