| Army of the James | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Negro quarters of the Army of the James | |
| Active | April 1864 – August 1865 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Field Army |
| Engagements | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Benjamin F. Butler Edward Ord |
TheArmy of the James was aUnion Army that was composed of units from theDepartment of Virginia and North Carolina and served along theJames River during the final operations of theAmerican Civil War inVirginia.
The Union Departments of Virginia and North Carolina merged in 1863. Troops from these departments formed theXVIII Corps. In April 1864 theX Corps was transferred from the Department of the South and the two corps formed the Army of the James.Maj. Gen.Benjamin F. Butler was placed in command.
DuringLt. Gen.Ulysses Grant'sOverland Campaign in 1864, Butler made several unsuccessful attempts atPetersburg andRichmond. At theBattle of Cold Harbor the XVIII Corps was sent to act under theArmy of the Potomac. The XVIII Corps also participated in theSiege of Petersburg. During the siege the Army of the James was mainly involved in theinvestment of Richmond.
Butler's only major success as commander of the army was in September 1864 at theBattle of Chaffin's Farm, in which the army took a significant portion of theConfederate works guarding Richmond, including Fort Harrison. In December the army was reorganized and the XVIII and X Corps were for the time discontinued. All theblack troops in the army were formed into theXXV Corps and the white troops into theXXIV Corps and the Departments of Virginia and North Carolina were separated. Units from the former XVIII Corps and X Corps were formed into the "Fort Fisher Expeditionary Corps" and sailed toFort Fisher. Butler used his position as department commander to assume personal command of the expedition, but after his failure at theFirst Battle of Fort Fisher, Grant took the opportunity to relieve Butler of command. Maj. Gen.Edward Ord was placed in command of the Army of the James.
Under Ord's leadership the Army of the James was to achieve its greatest success. The XXIV Corps participated in the final assaults on Petersburg, while the XXV Corps was the first unit to enter the fallen city of Richmond. Ord and the XXIV Corps followed the Confederates toAppomattox Court House where they cut offRobert E. Lee's escape route. The Army of the James was present at the surrender of theArmy of Northern Virginia.
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