Near Fort Lee in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

“A Splendid Charge”

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

1. "A Splendid Charge" Marker

Inscription. Here at Petersburg on June 15, 1864, African-American troops recorded their first major success of the war in Virginia.

“They made a splendid charge…and won great favor in the eyes of white soldiers by their courage and bravery.”
- Wilbur Fiske, 2nd Vermont Infantry June 19, 1864

After the capture of Battery 5, some of the 3,500 black troops swept southward, routing Confederates before them. At dusk, they charged on Battery 9 and swarmed over the works. During two hours of fighting on the Dimmock Line that evening, the U.S. Colored Troops (official designation) captured dozens of Confederates and six cannons.

Erected by Petersburg National Battlefield - National Park Service - Dept. of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1876.

Location. 37° 13.959′ N, 77° 21.284′ W. Marker is near Fort Lee, Virginia, in Prince George County. Marker is on Siege Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Petersburg National Battlefield. It is located at Tour Stop 3. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Lee VA 23801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Infantry Earthworks (a few steps from this marker); Monotonous Toil (a few steps from

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this marker); U.S. Colored Troops (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery 8 of the Dimmock Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); The United States Military Railroad (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dividing Point (approx. half a mile away); Site of U.S. Military Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Fort Gregg-Adams' Oldest Building (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lee.

More about this marker. The background of the marker is a sketch of the Union attack of the Dimmock Line.

The upper right of the marker contains a battle map and a war-time photo of soldiers on the Petersburg Lines. The map has a caption The Union advance on Batteries 8 and 9 stood on this spot, at the intersection of the Prince George Court House and Jordon Point Roads. The caption under the photo states African-American troops performed important services during the Siege of Petersburg. On April 3, 1865, lack troops would be among the first Union soldiers to enter the fallen capital of Richmond.

Like many other markers in Petersburg National Battlefield, the bottom

Markers at Battery 9 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

2. Markers at Battery 9

Black troops of Hink's Division captured this position, Confederate Battery 9, during the fighting on June 15, 1864.

of this marker contains a Petersburg Time Line. The Union attack on Dimmock Line is the first event noted.

Also see . . .
1. Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Cannon at Battery 9 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

3. Cannon at Battery 9

The location of the marker was the site of Confederate Battery 9. It was taken by the Union on the first day of fighting along the Dimmock Line.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,572 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.