Near Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
"Advanced…repulsed…charged again…"
Petersburg National Battlefield
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 • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1970.
Location. 37° 8.112′ N, 77° 37.233′ W. Marker is near Dinwiddie, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker can be reached from Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 627) half a mile south of White Oak Road (Virginia 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking 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); "I was exceeding anxious to attack at once…" (approx. ¼ mile away); Five Forks Battlefield (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Five Forks (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Five Forks (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Hold Five Forks at all hazards…" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Death of Pegram (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dinwiddie.
More about this marker. Behind the marker is the Devin Trail — the only Interpretive trail at the Five Forks Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield. The trail takes you to the Five Forks intersection and is a 1 mile walk round trip.
Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on July 27, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 496 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 24, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.