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

Edge Hill

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

1. Edge Hill Marker

Inscription. To the north stood William Turnbull's house, Edge Hill, headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee from 23 Nov. 1864 to 2 Apr. 1865 during the siege of Petersburg. Here, after dawn on 2 Apr., Lee learned of the Union attack that soon shattered his lines and spoke for the last time with Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill. Nearby, he received word of Hill's death a short time later. When the Federals approached, Lee moved his headquarters to Cottage Farm within the inner Confederate line, and that night he evacuated the Army of Northern Virginia from the city. Union artillery soon destroyed the Turnbull house. The present residence was one of the detached buildings.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number S-47.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1865.

Location. 37° 12.899′ N, 77° 27.266′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It is at the intersection of West Washington Street (U.S. 1) and Boydton Plank Road (Business U.S. 460), on the right when traveling west on West Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Central State Hospital (approx. ¼ mile away); Southside Virginia Training Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mayfield (approx. 0.4 miles away); Confederate Fort Whitworth (approx. ¾ mile away); The Battle of Fort Whitworth (approx. 0.8 miles away); Central State Hospital Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Siege of Petersburg—Grant's Eighth Offensive (approx. 1.2 miles away); Confederate Fort Gregg (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Central State Hospital (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Petersburg State Colony for the Negro Insane (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Edge Hill marker on W Washington Street (facing west). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

2. Edge Hill marker on W Washington Street (facing west).

Site of the Turnbull House, Lee's Headquarters. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 29, 2009

3. Site of the Turnbull House, Lee's Headquarters.

The last of Genl. Lees Headquarters - Petersburg -after the battle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alred Rudolph Waud, Apr 1865

4. The last of Genl. Lees Headquarters - Petersburg -after the battle

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-21471]

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,593 times since then and 183 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on March 22, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.