Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy

The Breakthrough

— Pamplin Historical Park —

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

1. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker

Inscription.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy

5th Vermont Infantry, 2nd Brigade,
2nd Division (Getty), Sixth Corps

Resident: Concord, Vermont

Enlisted: June 18, 1861

Kennedy and his men passed this very spot during their attack on April 2, 1865. He described the action that occurred here: “About 5 a.m., at the signal from Fort Fisher, we commenced the charge; passing through the enemy’s pickets, and, taking most of them prisoners, we pushed on to the main works, through two lines of abatis, and soon after took the work in our front, almost directly west of Fort Welch, with four pieces of artillery.” Kennedy survived the assault and was mustered out of service in June 1865.

Erected by Pamplin Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1865.

Location. 37° 10.872′ N, 77° 28.286′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker can be reached from Duncan Road (Virginia Route 670), on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Pamplin Historical Park, on the Breakthrough Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. “A Determination That Knew No Such Word as Fail” (within shouting distance

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of this marker); A Mysterious Historic Feature (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); “A Great Struggle is Now Impending” (about 500 feet away); “We Fought Desperately” (about 600 feet away); Lane’s North Carolina Brigade (about 700 feet away); Battlefield Terrain (about 700 feet away); 1st Lieutenant Evander McNair Robeson (about 700 feet away); “Our Line of Battle was so Thin” (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

More about this marker. The bottom left of the marker contains a photograph of Colonel Ronald Kennedy. Above that is a battle map of the Breakthrough, indicating the approach of the Union troops and the location of the marker.

Also see . . .
1. Breakthrough at Petersburg. The American Civil War website. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Breakthrough Trail. Pamplin Historical Park website. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

3. The Final Assault.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

2. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker

Lt. Col. Kennedy's troops charged across this field on April 2, 1865 toward the fortifications seen at the top of the photo.

The Civil War Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Battle Map from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

3. Battle Map from Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,391 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.