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

Confederate Fort Whitworth

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

1. Confederate Fort Whitworth Marker

Inscription. Named for the Whitworth family of Mayfield, the farm on which it was built, this outpost (a quarter-mile east) and Fort Gregg, 400 yards to the south, were constructed to protect the western approaches to Petersburg during the 1864-1865 siege. On 2 April 1865, when Gen. U.S. Grant’s army attacked the city after turning Gen. R.E. Lee’s flank at Five Forks the day before, the forts were the scene of intense fighting. The Union XXIV Corps captured the two positions, suffering 714 casualties. The Confederates lost about 300 men in a stubborn defense that delayed the Union advance for two hours, enabling Lee to withdraw his army safely that night and begin the westward march that ended a week later at Appomattox Court House.

Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number S-82.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1865.

Location. 37° 12.309′ N, 77° 27.596′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It is at the intersection of Boydton Plank Road (U.S. 1) and Albemarle

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Street, on the right when traveling north on Boydton Plank Road. Marker is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Boydton Plank Road and Albemarle 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Central State Hospital Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Battle of Fort Whitworth (approx. 0.4 miles away); Southside Virginia Training Center (approx. half a mile away); Siege of Petersburg—Grant's Eighth Offensive (approx. 0.6 miles away); Confederate Fort Gregg (approx. 0.7 miles away); Fort Gregg (approx. ¾ mile away); Edge Hill (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Central State Hospital (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Petersburg State Colony for the Negro Insane (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Central State Hospital (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Confederate Fort Gregg image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

2. Confederate Fort Gregg

These are the remains of Confederate Fort Gregg, which was attacked along with Fort Whitworth on April 2, 1865 by Union forces. They are located about 400 yards to the south of the marker. The site of Fort Whitworth has since been developed.

Battle Maps of Forts Whitworth and Gregg image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

3. Battle Maps of Forts Whitworth and Gregg

This map, from another nearby Fort Whitworth marker, shows Union troop movements during the April 2, 1865 attack.

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 4,218 times since then and 174 times this year. Last updated on September 1, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.