Near Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
"Advanced…repulsed…charged again…"
Petersburg National Battlefield
Photographed by Shane Oliver, July 18, 2015
1. "Advanced...repulsed...charged again" Marker
Waiting for the Union infantry assault on the east end of the Confederate line, these dismounted troopers advanced at the explosion of rifle fire at 4:15pm. The trees provided cover from Confederate fire as their seven-shot Spencer repeating carbines magnified their numbers.
"We again moved toward, firing slowly from behind the trees," recounted E.M. Johnson, 2nd New York Cavalry. Roger Hannaford, 2nd Ohio Cavalry, said, "While dashing forward…I dropped behind a big pine. Never did I hug the ground closer: the musketry was deadly & terrific, yet it seemed as nothing to the grape and canister that swept thro' the woods, just skimming the ground."
(captions)
(background) An image of dismounted cavalrymen in action.
(lower right) Union Brigadier General Thomas Devin, Cavalry Commander 1st Division, Army of the Shenandoah.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military
this page online
Location. 37° 8.112′ N, 77° 37.233′ 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 right when traveling south. Marker can be reached by walking the trail toward the picnic area behind the Five Forks Battlefield Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9840 Courthouse Road, Church Road VA 23833, 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 markers are within walking distance of this marker: "The woods were quite heavy..." (within shouting distance of this marker); Siege of Petersburg — The Linchpin is Pulled (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Siege of Petersburg (about 300 feet away); "While dashing forward..." (approx. 0.2 miles away); "I was exceeding anxious to attack at once…" (approx. ¼ mile away); "We had moved up to the edge of the timber..." (approx. ¼ mile away); Five Forks Battlefield (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Five Forks (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dinwiddie.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Union Cavalry Attacks (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Shane Oliver, July 18, 2015
2. Exhibit on Frederick Winthrop inside the Five Forks Visitor Center
