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

Charge of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery

— Petersburg National Battlefield —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, February 9, 2025

1. Charge of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Marker

Inscription. At 4:30 PM on June 18, 1864, roughly 900 soldiers of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery charged toward Colquitt's Salient. Having guarded the forts outside of Washington since August 1862, this was just their second significant combat action. The veteran regiments meant to support them, worn down by the previous weeks of combat, failed to advance.

The 1st Maine attacked alone. The Confederate musketry and artillery devastated the regiment. During the next ten minutes, the 1st Maine lost 115 men killed, 489 wounded, and 28 missing (632 in total). This is more than any other regiment in any other single battle of the war. The Confederates behind the earthworks lost 25 men.

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 June 18, 1864.

Location. 37° 13.894′ N, 77° 22.317′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. It can be reached from Siege Road 1.6 miles south of Oaklawn Boulevard (Virginia Route 36), on the right when traveling south. This marker is near the Eastern Front Driving Tour Stop #5 - Fort Stedman. It is located on the Colquitt's Salient Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5001 Siege Rd, 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 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

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other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lee's Last Offensive (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Colquitt’s Salient (about 400 feet away); First Maine Heavy Artillery Monument (about 500 feet away); Fort Stedman (about 600 feet away); Gracie’s Salient (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Fort Stedman (about 700 feet away); A Final Effort (about 700 feet away); Siege of Petersburg—Lee Strikes Back (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Wasted Valor (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Colquitt's Salient (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); Hare House Site (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Wasted Valor".

Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on March 2, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 13 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on February 24, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.