Near Petersburg in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Siege of Petersburg Grant's First Offensive
June 1864 Initial Assaults
| | Petersburg National Battlefield, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Shane Oliver, July 18, 2015
1. Siege of Petersburg — Grant's First Offensive Marker
Union General Ulysses S. Grant wanted to capture Richmondcapital 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 Petersburgthe key to Richmond.
May 31 - June 12, 1864Lee defeats Grant at Cold Harbor, stalling Grant's attempt on Richmond.
June 15, 1864Grant surprises Lee by attacking Petersburg. This attack on Petersburg was part of Grant's plan to capture the Confederate
this page online
June 17, 1864Lee sends reinforcements to Petersburg
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 31, 1864.
Location. 37° 14.642′ N, 77° 21.4′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Prince George County. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Battery 5 Trail (a few steps from this marker); Stephen Tyng Mather (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Siege of Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Prelude to Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Uprooted by War (within shouting distance of this marker); Artillery at Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Artillery at Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); The Petersburg Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. Battery 5 Trail (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Siege of Petersburg (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Uprooted by War (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
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 December 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2015. This page has been viewed 1,015 times since then and 32 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.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
