What you'll learn

After viewing this course, students will be able to describe the Battle of the Crater, including the spectacular achievements of the 48th Regiment from Pennsylvania and the deplorable leadership blunders of many in the Union army there.
After viewing this course, students will understand how the 48th Regiment from Pennsylvania ingeniously constructed a mine underneath Confederate lines at Petersburg.
After viewing this course, students will understand the Union battle plan for the Battle of the Crater, and how this plan failed miserably because of leadership errors.
After viewing this course, students will understand how the Confederates, shaken by the explosion of the Union mine, were able to effectively counterattack and win the Battle of the Crater.
After viewing this course, students will be able to explain the military and congressional inquiries made after the battle.

Course content

4 sections • 10 lectures • 1h 8m total length

Introduction and Background8:26
This lecture will introduce the course, including how the course was designed, who the audience is, and the length and the requirements of the course. This lecture will also provide some background to the time of the Petersburg Campaign near Richmond, Virginia, and describe the battle lines at Petersburg. Of particular interest is the place in the encampments where the trench lines are very close together. It was there that the Battle of the Crater developed.

The Tunnel Idea6:52
In this lecture, I will describe how the idea first came to the some of the soldiers to run a mine underneath the Confederate lines of defense at Petersburg. This was the brainchild of the 48th Regiment, PA Veteran Volunteer Infantry under the command of Lt. Col. Henry Pleasants. I will also describe how important people opposed the idea and did not give the 48th Regiment the supplies and support they needed.
Digging the Tunnel7:36
In this lecture, I will explain how the 48th Regiment innovated to craft their own tools and retrieve their own wood for the tunnel. Despite the lack of support and supplies, the tunnel was built and packed with tons of explosives by July 28, 1864.

Attack Plans7:32
In this lecture, I will describe the attack plans of General Grant, and of General Burnside attempts to fulfill his orders. There was disagreement between Generals Burnside and Meade, resulting in last-minute changes. The final arrangement in Burnside's forces was regrettable.
Explosion and Attack8:42
In this lecture, I will describe the explosion of the mine, and the attack that followed. The mine exploded very late, and orders were confused. The Union leaders made many mistakes in their execution of their plan, with the result that most of the Union troops were crowded in the crater left by the mine explosion.
Confederate Counterattack8:19
In this lecture, we'll see that the Confederates, though very frightened by the mine, were able to counterattack and take advantage of the Union troops terrible position in the crater. The result was a terrible loss by the Union side.

Aftermath7:33
In this lecture, I will describe the Union and Confederate losses, and the inevitable inquiries afterward, both by the military and by Congress.
Official Inquiries3:36
After such a terrible debacle, it was inevitable that there would be an official inquiry. In this lecture, I will explain two inquiries afterward. One inquiry was initiated by General Meade, and a later inquiry was held by Congress. Each had different results.
Epilogue6:18
In this final lecture, I will provide an epilogue, looking at the main characters of the story and what they did after the Battle of the Crater. I will also provide a conclusion to this study.
Oral Quiz3:17
Here is a ten-question oral quiz concerning the Battle of the Crater. You can keep your own score!

Requirements

Students just need the ability to view and hear video lectures, and perhaps a word processor for the bibliography at the end of the course.

Description

This short course describes one of the most unusual and ironic battles of the American Civil War. The Battle of the Crater took place on July 30, 1864 outside Petersburg, Virginia. What should have been a stunning breakthrough and victory turned out to be a catastrophic defeat. This course also displays many leaders at their very worst, and also, some leaders at their best.

The course begins with a short introduction to set the context for the battle. Then the lectures focus on the Union effort to secretly dig a tunnel beneath the Confederate lines, and plant tons of explosives underneath. The explosion of this mine should open the way through the lines and break the stalemate outside the city of Petersburg.

In this course, students will find out what happened instead, including a lot of errors that compounded as the battle ensued. In the last lectures, there will be a conclusion, an epilogue, and a short oral quiz.

The course is intended for those High School age and up, and requires just the ability to view and hear video lectures, and perhaps a word processor for the bibliography at the end of the course. There are nine lectures, and the time to complete the lectures is only about one hour.

Who this course is for:

This course is geared for anyone, High School age and above, who loves a good story.

What you'll learn

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Course content

The Journey to Petersburg1 lecture • 8min

The Mine Project2 lectures • 14min

The Battle3 lectures • 25min

Aftermath and Conclusion4 lectures • 21min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: