During mid-August, Union commanders recognized the critical role of railroads in sustaining Confederate forces around Petersburg, Virginia. The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad served as a vital supply line, bringing in troops and munitions needed for the Confederate army's maneuvers. To counter this support, Union General Ulysses S. Grant ordered a concerted offensive aimed at crippling the railroad's functionality. On August 18, Union troops confronted Confederate defenders near Globe Tavern, attempting to sever this key arterial link.

The clash featured intense fighting, as Union forces sought to advance their lines while pushing back the Confederate defenders. The confrontation involved strategic positioning and overwhelming numbers, with Union troops leveraging their superiority in artillery and manpower. Although the battle was not a decisive victory for either side, it succeeded in temporarily disrupting Confederate supply movement and logistics.

The battle was marked by the use of entrenched defensive positions by the Confederates, demonstrating their adaptation to the Union's aggressive tactics. As the Union forces continued their campaign, the impact of such engagements contributed to the broader strategy of squeezing the Confederacy's ability to sustain its armies, ultimately playing a pivotal part in the Union's overall strategy to encircle and besiege Petersburg.