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

Col. George W. Gowen Monument

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

1. Col. George W. Gowen Monument Plaque.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Erected by the surviving
Comrades, school children and
Citizens of Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania, and dedicated to
The memory of the dead of
The 48th Regiment Pennsylvania
Volunteers.

Col. George W. Gowen,
Killed in action in front of
Fort Mahone, April 2nd, 1865
Aged 25 years

Erected 1907 by Citizens of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

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

Location. 37° 12.174′ N, 77° 22.851′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of South Crater Road (U.S. 301) and South Sycamore Street, on the right when traveling south on South Crater Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Men and Boys of Petersburg (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pennsylvania Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln In Petersburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battery 31

Side plaque. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

2. Side plaque.

48th Regt.
Penn. Vet. Vol. Inf.
1st Brig. 2nd Div.
Burnside’s 9th A.C.
Mustered in
September 30, 1861
Mustered out
July 17, 1865

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Davis (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Fort Davis (approx. 0.8 miles away); Graham Road (approx. 0.9 miles away); Joshua L. Chamberlain Promoted “On The Spot” (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

3. Side plaque.

Bas relief depicting the 48th Penn working on the mineshaft of the Crater.

Col. George W. Gowen Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

4. Col. George W. Gowen Statue

The State of Pennsylvania - Virtue, Liberty, Independence image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

5. The State of Pennsylvania - Virtue, Liberty, Independence

Brevet Brigadier Genl Henry Pleasants of the 48th Regt. P.V.V image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

6. Brevet Brigadier Genl Henry Pleasants of the 48th Regt. P.V.V

A large portion of the 48th Pennsylvania were coal miners. Col. Henry Pleasants, a mining engineer by profession, commanded the 48th at the Battle of the Crater.

Col. George W. Gowen Monument. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

7. Col. George W. Gowen Monument.

Site of the killing ground in front of Fort Mahone. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

8. Site of the killing ground in front of Fort Mahone.

It is here that Union Fort Sedgwick (Fort Hell) and Confederate Fort Mahone (Fort Damnation) stood just several hundred feet apart. Unfortunately, this portion of the Petersburg battlefield has been completely obliterated by commercial development. As such, the Gowen Monument has become a "poster child" for battlefield preservation.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,550 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 1, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.