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

The Confederates Fall Back

— The Breakthrough Trail —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, September 21, 2024

1. The Confederates Fall Back Marker

Inscription. These shallow depressions are the remains of rifle pits constructed by the Confederates on the night of March 25, 1865. Earlier in the day, the Union Sixth Corps attacked a strong advanced line of Confederate fortifications about 400 yards ahead of you. In a spirited battle that lasted into the early evening, the Federals captured that Confederate line, forcing the Southerners to fall back to the ridge where you are now standing. During the night, Confederate soldiers created this new advanced line overlooking the swampy low ground in front of you. Not only were these fortifications much weaker than the ones captured on March 25, but they were substantially closer to the main Confederate works, only about 500 yards behind you. The Federals modified the captured picket line to face toward the Confederates and would use that position as their jump off point on the morning of April 2. A portion of those lines survive along the Petersburg Battlefield Trail.

(captions)
Picket posts like this protected the Confederate line about 400 yards in front of you. The rifle pits that survive here, and along the length of this ridge, resembled what soldiers in later wars called "foxholes" and provided much less protection than the elaborate defenses overrun by Union troops on March 25. Elsewhere along the Headwaters Trail, the new Confederate picket line follows a more conventional appearance.

Confederate officer James F.J. Caldwell describes the March 25 attack on the Confederate picket line from his vantage point along the main Confederate works. This fighting occurred about 400 yards in front of you.

Erected by Pamplin

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Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1865.

Location. 37° 10.684′ N, 77° 28.25′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from Duncan Road south of Boydton Plank Road (U.S. 1), on the left when traveling south. Marker is within Pamplin Historical Park on the Main Loop 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

The Confederates Fall Back Marker & Picket Post image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, September 21, 2024

2. The Confederates Fall Back Marker & Picket Post

The slight mound and the depression (filled with green growth) behind it is the most substantial of the rifle pits in the vicinity of the marker. The marker itself is visible at left. This view is approaching the marker, with the trail continuing north beyond it.

markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Ravine (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Attack Begins (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Headwaters Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Mysterious Historic Feature (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Hart Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Breakthrough (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Vermont Brigade (approx. 0.2 miles away); “A Great Struggle is Now Impending” (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Confederate Rifle Pits image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, September 21, 2024

3. Confederate Rifle Pits

These pits, described in the marker, are just west on the trail and have wooden signs denoting the groupings.

3D Elevation Imagery of the Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer

4. 3D Elevation Imagery of the Area

Imaging from USGS's 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) shows the ground features of this portion of the trail. The white circle is the marker' location. The small, bean-shaped pit just south of it is the picket post shown in the second photograph on this page. The varied dents in the ground shown as pock-marks to the north are the rifle pits mentioned, some of which are shown in the third photograph on this page. The trail's bridge over the swamp is evident - the interrupted, thicker berm to the right of it is a Confederate dam intended to inundate the ground with water as a defensive measure. The curved, winding low ground to the right of center and running right-left at the top of the image is the wet course of Arthur's Swamp. The distinct lines running diagonal at the lower right mark a modern roadbed.

Original Confederate Picket Line image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 8, 2024

5. Original Confederate Picket Line

This image is the picket line that was captured and repurposed to face the Confederates on 25 March 1865 as described in the marker. Though difficult to discern, these overgrown mounds have defensive trenches on both sides - one side dug by Confederates, the other dug by Federals. This set of earthworks is the portion along the Petersburg Battlefields Trail (outside of Pamplin Historical Park), referenced by the final sentence on the marker. They can be found in the woodlot around 37°10'51.2"N 77°27'42.0"W. Parking to reach them is at the trailhead, 7028 Church Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 2, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.