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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Petersburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
Blandford Church
In Harm’s Way
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 1. Blandford Church Marker | | |
Inscription. This church, built circa 1737, was in ruins at the time of the Civil War. Nonetheless, located behind Gracie’s, Colquitt’s and Elliott’s Salients in the Confederate defense lines, the structure served as a temporary field hospital during the Petersburg siege.
After the explosion of a Union mine at The Crater July 30, 1864, Confederate Gen. William Mahone rushed three brigades through here to blunt the Federal advance. Months later, in the early morning of March 25, 1865, Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon formed his assaulting columns to attack nearby Union Fort Stedman, opposite Colquitt’s Salient.
After the war, many of the Confederate dead from area battlefields and hospitals were reinterred here in a special section. Of approximately 30,000 soldiers buried here, only 2,025 are known; all are in mass graves. A small section south of the churchyard wall contains the remains of members of the famous New Orleans Washington Artillery who were killed during the siege. After the war, three Confederate generals were buried here: William Mahome, David Weisiger and Cullen Battle.
Between 1904 and 1912, Louis Comfort Tiffany installed fifteen windows in the church, eleven representing states in the former Confederacy, two for border states and the last for the Ladies Memorial Association.
Erected by | | | | 
By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 2. Blandford Church Battle Map | | |
Virginia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 37° 13.586′ N, 77° 23.295′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. Marker is on Crater Road (U.S. 460), on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Marker is located at the north end of the parking lot of the Blandford Church Visitor Center. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Blandford Church and Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.4 miles away); Battle of the Crater - Covered Way (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Petersburg.
More about this marker. The top center of the marker features a photograph of the church, with the caption Blandford Church and Cemetery as it appeared after the fall of Petersburg. - National Archives.
The upper right of the marker contains a map showing Blandford Church in relation to the Confederate and Union lines during the siege of Petersburg. Blandford Church, located just behind the Confederate lines, was a Union objective following the explosion at The Crater. Southern troops formed in the cemetery prior to the attack on Fort Stedman.| | | | 
By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Marker and Trailblaze | | |
Also see . . .
1. Old Blandford Church. (Submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
2. Civil War Traveler. Central Virginia - Petersburg. (Submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey.)
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 4. Blandford Church | | The Blandford Church was located just inside the Confederate lines during the Petersburg siege. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, April 25, 2006 | |
| | | 5. Blandford Church and Cemetery | | The Blandford Church is surrounded with a cemetery containing many Revolutionary War and Civil War graves. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 6. Blandford Cemetery Confederate Section | Many Confederate burials are in this section of the Blandford Cemetery.
Inscribed on the right side of the arch is:
"There comes a voice that awakes
awakes my soul
it is the voice of years
That are gone
They roll before me with
all their deeds
Ladies Memorial Association
Petersburg, Va."
On the right side an inscription states:
"This arch replaces one designed by William S. Simpson and erected by the L.M.A. of Petersburg Va. in 1884." | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 7. Grave of Gen. Mahone | | Gen. William Mahone, hero of the Battle of the Crater, wanted to be buried among his men. This grave is located near the mass Confederate grave. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 8. Washington Artillery Monument | | The Washington Artillery of New Orleans, La. erected this monument in Blandford Cemetery to commemorate those members who were killed during the siege of Petersburg. | | |
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By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007 | |
| | | 9. Confederate Mass Grave | | Almost 28,000 unknown Confederate soldiers are buried in this mass grave in Blandford Cemetery. | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,707 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 3. submitted on December 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 8. submitted on March 24, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 9. submitted on March 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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