Near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of Fort Whitworth
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
1. The Battle of Fort Whitworth Marker
Inscription.
The Battle of Fort Whitworth. . This battery, also known as Fort Baldwin, Alexander or Anderson was garrisoned by the 19th and 48th Mississippi Infantry of Brig. Genl. Nathaniel Harris’s brigade. They were initially supported by guns of Louisiana’s Washington Artillery but these were withdrawn from the fort during the battle. At 1:00 PM on April 2, 1865, the initial assault by Union forces began on nearby Fort Gregg by Maj. Genl. John Gibbon’s XXIV Corps. Eventually Fort Whitworth was attacked by Brig. Genl. Thomas M. Harris’s West Virginia brigade [10th, 11th and 15th Regiments]. With the subsequent capture of Fort Gregg by the Federals, General Lee ordered Whitworth evacuated, forcing his troops to fall back into the city defenses.
This battery, also known as Fort Baldwin, Alexander or Anderson was garrisoned by the 19th & 48th Mississippi Infantry of Brig. Genl. Nathaniel Harris’s brigade. They were initially supported by guns of Louisiana’s Washington Artillery but these were withdrawn from the fort during the battle. At 1:00 PM on April 2, 1865, the initial assault by Union forces began on nearby Fort Gregg by Maj. Genl. John Gibbon’s XXIV Corps. Eventually Fort Whitworth was attacked by Brig. Genl. Thomas M. Harris’s West Virginia brigade [10th, 11th & 15th Regiments]. With the subsequent capture of Fort Gregg by the Federals, General Lee ordered Whitworth evacuated, forcing his troops to fall back into the city defenses.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 37° 12.173′ N, 77° 27.219′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker is at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Accomack Street, on the right when traveling north on 7th Avenue. The marker is located in a playground on the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and Accomack Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 7th Ave, Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The left of the marker contains a battle map of the April 2, 1865 assault on Forts Gregg and Whitworth.
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 28, 2015
2. The Battle of Fort Whitworth Marker
Marker is between the trees on the left.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
3. Battle Map of from Marker
This map shows Union troop movements during the April 2, 1865 attack on Forts Whitworth and Gregg.
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 28, 2015
4. Right bastion of Fort Whitworth
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 28, 2015
5. The Battle of Fort Whitworth Marker
During the assault of Gibbon's Corps on this section of the Confederate lines, Harris' brigade attacked over the ground between Fort Whitworth and what is today Interstate-85. In this view, looking south down 7th Avenue, the Federal advance went from right to left, through the far tree line screening I-85.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
6. Fort Gregg
Confederate Fort Gregg, pictured here, was attacked along with Fort Whitworth by Union forces on April 2, 1865. It is located about ½ mile from the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,747 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on August 22, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos:1. submitted on December 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on March 31, 2015, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on March 31, 2015, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on December 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.