Photo of Medal of Honor Recipient Delavan Bates

After weeks of preparation, on July 30, 1864, the Union soldiers exploded a mine in Burnside's IX Corps sector beneath Pegram's Salient, blowing a gap in the Confederate defenses of Petersburg in preparations for the fierce fighting later called the "Battle of the Crater". Unit after unit charged into and around the crater, where soldiers milled in confusion. The rebels quickly recovered and launched several counterattacks. The break was sealed off, and the Union Army repulsed with more than 7,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. Twenty three soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor for their valor in this deadly battle, including Colonel Delavan Bates who led his regiment bravely until he fell, shot in the face.
In all, a total of 64 Medals of Honor were earned in action at Petersburg, Virginia, in the period from March 25 to April 3, 1865.

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