Confederate Fort Gilmer stood as a major obstacle to any advance on Richmond. On the afternoon of September 29, 1864, several regiments of black troops stormed the works but were driven back. A portion of the 7th United States Colored Troops made the last of three bloody assaults and reached the deep moat outside the fort’s outer wall, but nearly the entire command was killed, wounded, or captured. The fighting here was one of several Union attacks that day known as the battles of Chaffin’s Farm. Despite success at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, the arrival of southern reinforcements personally led by General R. E. Lee ended any further march against Richmond.