Petersburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Struggle Across Poor Creek
| | Petersburg National Battlefield | |
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 22, 2021
1. The Struggle Across Poor Creek Marker
Some of these men, under fire from North Carolinian troops, moved across the stream and up the ridge in front of the Confederate works. Here they "attained a position in the undergrowth .. from which they kept up a sharp fire on the enemy," reported Turner. They had done this after seeing United States Colored Troops (USCT) capturing Confederate trenches atop the ridge.
As Turners men were about to go up the hill, some of the USCTs, who had been in close-quarters combat with Confederates, retreated down the ridge. These troops came "dashing through my men with arms at trail and bayonets fixed," Col. Louis Bell reported, "Quite a number of my men were wounded by the bayonets of the retreating troops." Turner's men were forced back to the picket line where they had started.
(captions)
These men fought across the ground before you.
Maj. Nathan Axtell 142nd N.Y. Inf.
Pvt. Robert Barrows 142nd N.Y. Inf.
Copl. John Mahoney 4th NH Inf.
Pvt. Tanner Smith 47h N.Y. Inf.
Unidentified soldier, 76th Pennsylvania Infantry
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Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1864.
Location. 37° 13.242′ N, 77° 22.543′ W. Marker is unreadable. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. It can be reached from Siege Road 0.4 miles east of South Crater Road (U.S. 301), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Concealment walking trail at Stop 8 on the Park Battlefield Driving Tour. The trail appears to no longer be in use - all signs directing visitors to it are gone, and the markers on the trail are either missing or in very poor shape. The bridge over Poor Creek is also collapsing. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5001 Siege Rd, Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is 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 location: Digging the Mine (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ventilation Shaft (about 600 feet away); The Crater (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Stupendous Failure (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Counterattack (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Countermine (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union High Tide (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crater of Mine (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 22, 2021
2. The Struggle Across Poor Creek Marker
Heading across the bridge and continuing on the trail leads to the Crater Mine Entrance.
