Petersburg in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Artillery at Petersburg
| | Petersburg National Battlefield | |
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, February 1, 2025
1. Artillery at Petersburg Marker
For soldiers, surviving the shelling meant vigilance, living in bomb proofs, and dealing with the stress of bombardments.
The artillery pieces before you are examples of types of cannon used by both sides during the siege.
"Simultaneously the rebels opened their mortar battery very savagely. Our mortars and field artillery responded. This continued for ninety minutes during which time fifteen or twenty shells could be constantly counted in midair at one time. A more splendid display I never witnessed." William P. Hopkins, 7th Rhode Island Volunteers
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 37° 14.616′ N, 77° 21.41′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia, in Prince George County. It can be reached from Siege Road 0.3 miles north of Oaklawn Boulevard (Virginia Route 36), on the left when traveling north. Marker
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. 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: Stephen Tyng Mather (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery 5 Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Siege of Petersburg Grant's First Offensive (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Siege of Petersburg (within shouting distance of this marker); Prelude to Petersburg (within shouting distance
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, February 1, 2025
2. Artillery at Petersburg - Artillery Park
Marker is by the flagpole, rear facing the camera, at center distant. In addition to the 15 pieces of artillery shown here, there are three additional gun tubes out of frame to the right - two 8-inch siege howitzers and a 32-pdr US Navy smoothbore.
Other markers no longer nearby. Battery 5 Trail (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Siege of Petersburg (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Uprooted by War (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Marker replaced the linked marker - the old marker contained a key to the cannon, now each gun has its own label plaque.
Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on December 24, 2025.)
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, February 1, 2025
3. Artillery at Petersburg
The two siege howitzers and the smoothbore not shown in the area view. Also visible from this angle is the old location of the artillery display, down the path in the distance where the old marker was. The markers in the background are for the Battery 5 Trail and the Jordan House Foundation Ruin titled "Uprooted by War." The previous artillery display was to the right of the bent old tree that angles up and off to the left of the frame, on the right side of the sidewalk.
4. Battery of Parrott Guns Manned by Company C, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery - Fort Brady, VA, 1864
Library of Congress (LC-B811- 2700)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on December 24, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
