Petersburg in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Siege of Petersburg — Grant's First Offensive
June 1864 Initial Assaults
Photographed By Shane Oliver, July 18, 2015
1. Siege of Petersburg — Grant's First Offensive Marker
Union General Ulysses S. Grant wanted to capture Richmond—capital of the Confederacy. Grant knew that the key to Richmond was Petersburg which was lightly defended by Confederate forces. Failing to take Richmond by approaching from the north, Grant surprised Lee by attacking Petersburg in the south. With Union General Benjamin Butler's forces to help strengthen his drive to Petersburg, Grant reached Petersburg's defenses, here where you are standing, on June 15th, 1864.General P.G.T Beauregard, the Confederate commander in Petersburg held off Union attacks for the next two days and kept the city in Confederate hands. Beauregard brought more of his own troops down from the Bermuda Hundred lines, rebuilding Confederate defenses, and finally receiving reinforcements from Lee late on June 17th. At the end of the battle on June 18th, 1864 Lee still held Petersburg—the key to Richmond.
May 31 - June 12, 1864—Lee defeats Grant at Cold Harbor, stalling Grant's attempt on Richmond.
June 15, 1864—Grant surprises Lee by attacking Petersburg. This attack on Petersburg was part of Grant's plan to
this page online
June 17, 1864—Lee sends reinforcements to Petersburg
Erected by Petersburg National Battlefield - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 37° 14.642′ N, 77° 21.4′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Prince George County. Marker can be reached from Siege Road, 0.2 miles north of Oaklawn Boulevard (Virginia Route 36), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5001 Siege Road, Prince George VA 23875, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battery 5 Trail (a few steps from this marker); The Siege of Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Prelude to Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephen Tyng Mather (within shouting distance of this marker); Uprooted by War (within shouting distance of this marker); Artillery at Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); The Petersburg Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery 5 of the Dimmock Line (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line).
More about this marker. This marker describes the opening actions of the Siege of Petersburg, including Grant's first attack on the city's defenses.
Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. (Submitted on March 2, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2015. This page has been viewed 697 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on August 20, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photo 1. submitted on July 21, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
