Near Fort Lee in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Infantry Earthworks

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

1. Infantry Earthworks Marker

Inscription.
Re-created here are samples of some of the infantry earthworks that ringed Petersburg – works that one man said made the landscape resemble “an immense prairie dog village.” As the siege wore on, assaults against entrenched positions became rare. Most of the pitched battles at Petersburg took place beyond the flanks of the armies, as the Federals inexorably pushed westward to cut the rail lines and roads into the city.

“Attacking entrenchments has been tried so often and with such fearful losses that even the stupidest private now knows that it cannot succeed, and the natural consequence follows; the men will not try it. The very sight of a bank of earth brings them to a dead halt.”

Col. Charles Wainwright, USA, June 18, 1864

Erected by Petersburg National Battlefield, National Park Service, 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° 13.96′ N, 77° 21.27′ W. Marker is near Fort Lee, Virginia, in Prince George County. Marker is on Siege Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Petersburg National Battlefield at Driving Tour Stop 3. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Lee VA 23801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker. Monotonous Toil (a few steps from this marker); “A Splendid Charge” (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Colored Troops (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery 8 of the Dimmock Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); The United States Military Railroad (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dividing Point (approx. half a mile away); Site of U.S. Military Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Fort Gregg-Adams' Oldest Building (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lee.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Infantry Earthworks".

Also see . . . Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on November 15, 2021.)

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2021

2. Infantry Earthworks Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.