Petersburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Defending Fort Haskell
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
1. Defending Fort Haskell Marker
“Our thin line mounted the banquette – the wounded and sick loading the muskets, while those with sound hands stood to the parapets and blazed away.”
- George L. Kilmer, 14th N.Y. Heavy Artillery
Dazed Union survivors of the attack at Fort Stedman jammed into Haskell, where Southern artillery and the captured guns at Fort Stedman bombarded them. Union artillery to the south, thinking Fort Haskell had fallen, opened fire too. Then, soon after daylight, a Confederate division moved out of Fort Stedman and attacked Haskell through the ravine in front of you.
Union Infantrymen and three cannons along this parapet of Fort Haskell raked the Confederate lines. Only a few Confederates made it out of the ravine, and few of those who did survived.
Erected by Petersburg National Battlefield - National Park Service - Dept. of the Interior.
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° 13.612′ N, 77° 22.16′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. It is
this page online
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: Gracies Salient (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Stedman (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Stedman (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Final Effort (approx. 0.3 miles away); Siege of PetersburgLee Strikes Back (approx. 0.3 miles away); Charge of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Colquitts Salient (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lee's Last Offensive
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
2. Fort Haskell Marker
Union artillery and infantry fire here stopped the Confederate advance during the Battle for Fort Stedman.
Other markers no longer nearby. Wasted Valor (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Colquitt's Salient (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Colquitts Salient Trail (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. The background of the marker is a painting of Union soldiers defending Fort Haskell from the attacking Confederates.
The bottom of the marker, like many others in Petersburg National Battlefield, features a Petersburg Time Line, including the failed attack on Fort Stedman.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Stedman. CWSAC Battle Summaries. (Submitted on April 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on April 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. The Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on April 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
3. Fort Stedman
After taking Fort Stedman, Confederate forces proceeded south toward Fort Haskell but were driven back by the Union troops there.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,848 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
