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

The Hart Farm

— The Breakthrough Trail —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, July 4, 2025

1. The Hart Farm Marker

Inscription. John Hart was born in Pennsylvania in 1814 and married Mary Eliza Johnson in 1854. The couple moved to Virginia the next year to raise their family. Many of their neighbors had also migrated from the North during that decade. The Confederate Army conscripted John into service in April 1864 and detailing him as a teamster around Petersburg, Union forces captured him on April 2, 1865, and held him until June.

Upon his return home, Hart requested that the local Federal military district assess damage done to his property during the Petersburg Campaign. Two neighbors testified that he served in the Confederate army against his will: "John Hart is now and has been throughout the late rebellion a loyal citizen of the United States [and] that he gave no voluntary aid whatever to the support of said rebellion."

Erected by Pamplin Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1865.

Location. 37° 10.608′ N, 77° 28.632′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from Duncan Road (Virginia Route 670) one mile south of Boydton Plank Road (U.S. 1), on the left when traveling south. The marker is in Pamplin Historical Park on the Hart Farm

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branch of the Breakthrough Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6125 Boydton Plank Road, 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 Hart Farm House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Breakthrough at Hart Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hart House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Harmon Road (within shouting distance of this marker); “The Cannons’ Flashes Lit Up the Terrible Scene” (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Breakthrough (about 800 feet away); Sixth Maryland Infantry Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); “The Strongest Line of Works Ever Constructed” (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

More about this marker. Note the "official P.O.W. record" shown as an inset on the marker is not an official P.O.W. record. It is a card completed post-war by clerks based on John Hart's name being mentioned on a register of prisoners. These cards were created to compile the military service records of the men on both sides of the conflict for filing purposes (and later pensions), and obviated the need to go through lengthy, fragile, handwritten registers searching for an individual's name on a list. Therefore

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, July 4, 2025

2. The Hart Farm Marker

And the ca. 1859 Hart Farmhouse beyond.

the card, while part of John Hart's Compiled Military Service Record in the National Archives, is more like an index citation of where he appears in official records than an actual POW record - the latter of which would be only his name appearing in registers of the facilities/facility where he was held.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.