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

Lincoln In Petersburg

Presidential Visit to Centre Hill

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 23, 2011

1. Lincoln In Petersburg CWT Marker

Inscription. At noon on April 7, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and his party left City Point for Petersburg in a special train on the newly repaired City Point Railroad, arriving in the city half an hour later. His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and their young son, Tad, accompanied him, as well as Mrs. Lincoln’s dressmaker and confidante, Elizabeth Keckley, who had been a slave in Petersburg. Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, one of Lincoln’s closest friends, and Adm. David Porter completed the party. They eventually arrived here at Centre Hill, headquarters for the commanding officer of the Petersburg garrison, Union Gen. George L. Hartsuff. While a staff officer gave the others a tour of the house, Lincoln and Hartsuff discussed the temper of Petersburg’s white population. This conversation probably occurred in the study, off the stair hall.

Hartsuff told Lincoln that he might rent Centre Hill from its owners, Robert Buckner Bolling and his wife, who were still at a country place they owned in northern Virginia. Lincoln stared at the shell-torn walls and quipped that Federal batteries had “made rent enough here already.”

While

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on the train back to City Point, Lincoln shared Hartsuff’s encouraging opinion that “animosity in the town is abating,” and that “the inhabitants now accept as accomplished facts, the final downfall of the Confederacy, and the abolition of slavery. …[and] every day brings new reason for confidence in the future.” Eight days later, the outlook for the nation suddenly darkened as Lincoln lay dying in Washington, Sumner holding his hand.

(sidebar)
In March 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant invited President Abraham Lincoln to visit him at City Point for a respite from the capital as the 9½-month-Iong siege of Petersburg neared its end. Lincoln joined him on March 24. They held meetings, reviewed the army, and toured fortifications. On April 3, the day the Federals occupied Richmond and Petersburg, Lincoln and Grant held their last meeting in Petersburg. Lincoln visited Richmond the next day. He returned to Washington on April 9 as Grant accepted the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army at Appomattox Court House.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker

Presidential Visit to Centre Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 23, 2011

2. Presidential Visit to Centre Hill Marker

is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1865.

Location. 37° 13.825′ N, 77° 24.075′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. It is on Centre Hill Court 0.1 miles north of Franklin Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Centre Hill Avenue, Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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: Petersburg Volunteers 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); Courthouse (about 700

Centre Hill (south entrance) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 23, 2011

3. Centre Hill (south entrance)

feet away, measured in a direct line); East Hill (about 700 feet away); Ladies Confederate Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Langhorne Bond (1893-1985) (approx. 0.2 miles away); Formation of the Southern Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Petersburg (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Centre Hill (north entrance) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 23, 2011

4. Centre Hill (north entrance)

Historic Building Plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, October 23, 2011

5. Historic Building Plaques

Abraham Lincoln, Pres't U.S. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alexander Gardner

6. Abraham Lincoln, Pres't U.S.

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-19215]

Mrs. Abraham Lincoln image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

7. Mrs. Abraham Lincoln

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-cwpbh-01028]

Charles Sumner, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mathew B. Brady, circa 1865

8. Charles Sumner, half-length portrait, seated, facing slightly left

Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-128709]

G.L. Hartsuff image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

9. G.L. Hartsuff

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-cwpb-05150]

Head Quarters of Gen. G.L. Hartsuff image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

10. Head Quarters of Gen. G.L. Hartsuff

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsc-03301]

Sketch of the entrenched lines in the immediate front of Petersburg image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nathaniel Michler

11. Sketch of the entrenched lines in the immediate front of Petersburg

Library of Congress [G3884.P4S5 1865 .M5 CW 609]

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,253 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 23, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on October 23, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 11. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.