Near Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
"The woods were quite heavy..."
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 28, 2025
1. "The woods were quite heavy..." Marker
Elbert M. Johnson, Company E, 2nd New York "Harris Light" Cavalry
"Where our Brigade was stationed was a heavy pine wood opposite the rebel line; there the road was in front of the line and across the road they cut down a lot of trees all the way along, throwing their points towards us."
Roger Hannaford, Company M, 2nd Ohio Cavalry
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 April 1, 1865.
Location. 37° 8.137′ N, 77° 37.27′ W. Marker is near Dinwiddie, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 627) half a mile south of White Oak Road (Route 613), on the left when traveling north. Marker is in the Five Forks Unit of the Petersburg National Battlefield, on the Devin Trail between the visitor center and the Five Forks Intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9840 Courthouse Road, Dinwiddie VA 23841, United States
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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 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: "Advanced repulsed charged again " (within shouting distance of this marker); Siege of Petersburg The Linchpin is Pulled (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Siege of Petersburg (about 500 feet away); "While dashing forward..." (approx. 0.2 miles away); "We had moved up to the edge of the timber..." (approx. Ό mile away); Five Forks Battlefield (approx. Ό mile away); Battle of Five Forks (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named The Battle of Five Forks (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 28, 2025
2. "The woods were quite heavy..." Marker
View from the park's Devin Trail, encompassing the wooded area described, looking past the marker towards Courthouse Road to the north (not visible from this vantage point).
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Union Cavalry Attacks (was approx. Ό mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 55 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
