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

Petersburg Battlefields

The Final Petersburg Offensive

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2021

1. Petersburg Battlefields Marker

Inscription.

Petersburg Battlefields. The Final Petersburg Offensive. , "No doubt a few more days will settle the fate of Petersburg. I shall be glad to welcome the dawn of peace, for I am tired of bloodshed." , , Col. Elisha Hunt Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, USA, "A very small effort on the part of the enemy would carry the portion of our lines, and if this was done, our army would be cut in two beyond even the hope of reconstruction." , , Pvt. John H. Walters, Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, CSA, The Sixth Corps breakthrough of April 2, 1865, capped a week of fighting and maneuvering southwest of Petersburg. Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant seized the initiative following the failed Confederate sortie at Fort Stedman on March 25 and targeted Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's final two supply lines, the Boydton Plank Road and the South Side Railroad. Grant employed Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's newly arrived cavalry and the Fifth and Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac to execute his offensive. He began the operation on March 29., Sheridan's horsemen occupied the Boydton Plank Road at Dinwiddie Court House on the 29th without serious opposition, and Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's Fifth Corps pressed forward farther north, fighting at the Lewis Farm and aiming for the railroad beyond Lee's extended right flank. Major engagements at White Oak Road and near Dinwiddie Court House on March 31 led to a showdown for control of the railroad at Five Forks on April 1, resulting in an overwhelming Union victory. Grant sensed that the Confederates had reached their breaking point and ordered an all-out assault on Lee's line at dawn, April 2. The Union Sixth Corps attacked across this ground that morning., (Photo Captions) , Gen. Philip H. Sheridan arrived at Petersburg in late March 1865 after defeating a Confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley. , Courtesy National Archives, Remembered as "The Waterloo of the Confederacy," the important Battle of Five Forks set the stage for the true decisive action at Petersburg the following day. - Courtesy Library of Congress

"No doubt a few more days will settle the fate of Petersburg. I shall be glad to welcome the dawn of peace, for I am tired of bloodshed."
—Col. Elisha Hunt Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, USA

"A very small effort on the part of the enemy would carry the portion of our lines, and if this was done, our army would be cut in two beyond even the hope of reconstruction."
—Pvt. John H. Walters, Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, CSA

The Sixth Corps breakthrough of April 2, 1865, capped a week of fighting and maneuvering southwest of Petersburg. Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant seized the initiative following the failed Confederate sortie at Fort Stedman on March 25 and targeted Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's final two supply lines, the Boydton Plank Road and the South Side Railroad. Grant employed Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's newly arrived cavalry and the Fifth and Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac to execute his offensive. He began the operation on March 29.

Sheridan's horsemen occupied the Boydton Plank Road at Dinwiddie Court House on the 29th without serious opposition, and Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's Fifth Corps pressed forward farther north, fighting at the Lewis Farm and aiming for the railroad beyond Lee's extended right flank. Major engagements at White Oak Road and near

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Dinwiddie Court House on March 31 led to a showdown for control of the railroad at Five Forks on April 1, resulting in an overwhelming Union victory. Grant sensed that the Confederates had reached their breaking point and ordered an all-out assault on Lee's line at dawn, April 2. The Union Sixth Corps attacked across this ground that morning.

(Photo Captions)
Gen. Philip H. Sheridan arrived at Petersburg in late March 1865 after defeating a Confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley.
Courtesy National Archives

Remembered as "The Waterloo of the Confederacy," the important Battle of Five Forks set the stage for the true decisive action at Petersburg the following day. - Courtesy Library of Congress

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

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic 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° 10.666′ N, 77° 28.043′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Church Road (Virginia Route 672) and Flank Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the Civil War Trust Breakthrough

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2021

2. Petersburg Battlefields Marker

Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Petersburg Battlefields (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Mysterious Historic Feature (approx. ¼ mile away); “A Great Struggle is Now Impending” (approx. ¼ mile away); “A Determination That Knew No Such Word as Fail” (approx. ¼ mile away); Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Hart Farm (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Also see . . .
1. Petersburg Breakthrough: The Fall of Petersburg. American Battlefield Trust (Submitted on October 26, 2021.)

2. Pamplin Historical Park. (Submitted on October 26, 2021.)

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 21, 2021

3. Petersburg Battlefields Marker

Marker is located amongst the trees, left of center.

Last charge of 5th Corps at 5 Forks image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alfred R. Waud, April 1, 1865

4. Last charge of 5th Corps at 5 Forks

Library of Congress (LC-DIG-ppmsca-23169)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 26, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 4. submitted on October 26, 2021. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.