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

Petersburg Battlefields

The Campaign for Petersburg

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 17, 2015

1. Petersburg Battlefields CWT Marker

Inscription.

Petersburg Battlefields. The Campaign for Petersburg.

“The charge of Major-Gen. Wright’s veterans under cover of the darkness and mist … will forever live in history as one of the grandest and most sublime actions of the war.”, Sgt. Newton J. Terrill, 14th New Jersey Infantry, USA, “The Army of Northern Virginia got whipped badly. The killed and wounded was large. An awful sad day in the Army and I reckon all over the country.”, Lt. James E. Phillips, 12th Virginia Infantry, CSA

, The ground before you witnessed one of the most decisive attacks of the entire Civil War. Early on the morning of April 2, 1865, some 14,000 Union soldiers crossed eight hundred yards of open ground and attacked about 2,800 Confederates manning a line of earthworks protecting access to Petersburg. The Federal victory here broke Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s previously impenetrable defenses and, along with other Union gains, prompted Lee to order the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond., This breakthrough came after months of effort. In September and October 1864, the Federals made key terrain gains at the Battle of Peebles’ Farm. For six months thereafter, troops in blue and gray occupied opposing picket lines, exchanging shots, coffee, and tobacco. On March 25, 1865, the Battle of Jones Farm set the stage for ultimate Union success., This trail connects the Union works preserved by Petersburg National Battleﬁeld with the Confederate works within Pamplin Historical Park and crosses the ground saved by the Civil War Trust. The trail covers approximately two miles round trip and takes about 90 minutes to walk. Please note that Pamplin Historical Park charges an entrance fee, which is payable at the park’s Battleﬁeld Center or at the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier., (captions) , Gen. Horatio G. Wright commanded the Union Sixth Corps, whose troops made the attacks here on March 25 and April 2, 1865. Courtesy Library of Congress, Confederate Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill commanded the Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, which bore responsibility for the Confederate defenses immediately southwest of Petersburg. From Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War

“The charge of Major-Gen. Wright’s veterans under cover of the darkness and mist … will forever live in history as one of the grandest and most sublime actions of the war.”—Sgt. Newton J. Terrill, 14th New Jersey Infantry, USA

“The Army of Northern Virginia got whipped badly. The killed & wounded was large. An awful sad day in the Army & I reckon all over the country.”—Lt. James E. Phillips, 12th Virginia Infantry, CSA

The ground before you witnessed one of the most decisive attacks of the entire Civil War. Early on the morning of April 2, 1865, some 14,000 Union soldiers crossed eight hundred yards of open ground and attacked about 2,800 Confederates manning a line of earthworks protecting access to Petersburg. The Federal victory here broke Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s previously impenetrable defenses and, along with other Union gains, prompted Lee to order the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond.

This breakthrough came after months of effort. In September and October 1864, the Federals made key terrain gains at the Battle of Peebles’ Farm. For six months thereafter, troops in blue and gray occupied opposing

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picket lines, exchanging shots, coffee, and tobacco. On March 25, 1865, the Battle of Jones Farm set the stage for ultimate Union success.

This trail connects the Union works preserved by Petersburg National Battleﬁeld with the Confederate works within Pamplin Historical Park and crosses the ground saved by the Civil War Trust. The trail covers approximately two miles round trip and takes about 90 minutes to walk. Please note that Pamplin Historical Park charges an entrance fee, which is payable at the park’s Battleﬁeld Center or at the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.

(captions)
Gen. Horatio G. Wright commanded the Union Sixth Corps, whose troops made the attacks here on March 25 and April 2, 1865. Courtesy Library of Congress

Confederate Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill commanded the Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, which bore responsibility for the Confederate defenses immediately southwest of Petersburg. From Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War

Erected 2015 by Civil War Trust, Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic

Petersburg Battlefields Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 17, 2015

2. Petersburg Battlefields Marker

list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1865.

Location. 37° 10.422′ N, 77° 27.306′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from the intersection of Church Road (Virginia Route 672) and Flank Road, on the right when traveling south. 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: The Largest Fort (about 500 feet away, measured

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 17, 2015

3. Fort Welch

in a direct line); Siege of Petersburg—Grant's Fifth Offensive (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (approx. 0.2 miles away); Life Between the Picket Lines (approx. ¼ mile away); Contested Ground (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Conahey (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Also see . . .
1. Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. (Submitted on October 19, 2015.)
2. Petersburg Breakthrough. Civil War Trust (Submitted on October 19, 2015.)

Closeup of Trail Map on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 21, 2021

4. Closeup of Trail Map on Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,099 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on October 23, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 19, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on October 23, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.