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

The Breakthrough

— Pamplin Historical Park —

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

1. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker

Inscription.
Kennedy and his men passed this very spot during their attack on April 2, 1865. He described the action that occurred here: “About 5 a.m., at the signal from Fort Fisher, we commenced the charge; passing through the enemy’s pickets, and, taking most of them prisoners, we pushed on to the main works, through two lines of abatis, and soon after took the work in our front, almost directly west of Fort Welch, with four pieces of artillery.” Kennedy survived the assault and was mustered out of service in June 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy
5th Vermont Infantry, 2nd Brigade,
2nd Division (Getty), Sixth Corps
Resident: Concord, Vermont
Enlisted: June 18, 1861

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° 10.853′ N, 77° 28.284′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from Duncan Road (Virginia Route 670), on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Pamplin Historical Park, on the Breakthrough Trail. 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

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marker: Old Vermont Brigade (here, next to this marker); “A Determination That Knew No Such Word as Fail” (within shouting distance of this marker); The Attack Begins (within shouting distance of this marker); The Headwaters Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Mysterious Historic Feature (about 400 feet away); “A Great Struggle is Now Impending” (about 400 feet away); The Ravine (about 600 feet away); “We Fought Desperately” (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

More about this marker. The bottom left of the marker contains a photograph of Colonel Ronald Kennedy. Above that is a battle map of the Breakthrough, indicating the approach of the Union troops and the location of the marker.

Also see . . .
1. Breakthrough at Petersburg. The American Civil War website. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Breakthrough Trail. Pamplin Historical Park website. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

3. The Final Assault. The Civil War Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

2. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy Marker

Lt. Col. Kennedy's troops charged across this field on April 2, 1865 toward the fortifications seen at the top of the photo.

Battle Map from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

3. Battle Map from Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,664 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on October 2, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 15, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.