Petersburg

After months of fighting in the late spring of 1864, Union forces backed Robert E. Lee's Confederate army into defensive lines around Petersburg. For more than nine months the city endured a siege. The Petersburg National Battlefield maintains several park units to help tell the story.

Information about touring Petersburg's Civil War sites is available at the visitor center in Old Town or call 800-368-3595. See also Lee's Retreat for information about White Oak Road and Five Forks.

Jump to City of Petersburg.

Petersburg National Battlefield

Eastern Front (Main) visitor center located east of the city off Route 36

This 2,659-acre park encompasses landmarks associated with 9.5 months of fighting for this strategic railroad town. Initial Union attacks against the city's defenses were turned back in June 1864 and the armies settled into siege warfare, punctuated by intense fighting. Supplied from nearby City Point (now in Hopewell), the Union army finally flanked Lee's Confederates at Five Forks on April 1, 1865, forcing the Southern army to leave the city the next day. The surrender at Appomattox was a week away.

The park visitor center at the Eastern Front unit features an electronic map, museum exhibits, ranger help and a bookstore. Daily programs during the summer. Open daily 9 am–5 pm. $5 per vehicle. See also Overland Campaign and Lee's Retreat. 804-732-3531.

Park highlights

Eastern Front Unit – Fort Stedman, site of Lee's last great offensive to break the siege. His attacks there March 25, 1865, were unsuccessful. Remains of "The Crater," famed site of a Union attempt to break the lines here with the use of four tons of gunpowder at the end of a mine, are still visible. The explosion July 30, 1864. tore a gap but failed to lead to Northern success.

Grant's Headquarters at City Point (in Hopewell) – Exhibits in the Appomattox Manor visitor center help tell the story of the vast Union supply depot and hospital at the confluence of the James and Appomattox rivers. Walking tour of the area is available. 804-458-9504.

Western Front – Siege Line Tour covers a series of battlefields and fortifications constructed during the siege. The tour traces the evolution of events and covers several battlefields as the Union and Confederate lines lengthened. Poplar Grove Cemetery is located on the tour route. It's open during the summer Friday–Sunday 9 am–5 pm. Tour includes Fort Gregg, which fell during the last Federal push April 2, 1865.

Five Forks – This strategic crossroads was the anchor of the Confederate line until April 1, 1865, when it was attacked successfully by Union forces under Gen. Philip Sheridan and others. The Confederate loss here opened the door to the last supply line leading into the city, the South Side Railroad. A visitor contact station is open daily 9 am–5 pm. 804-265-8244.

City of Petersburg sites

Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, U.S. Route 1, south of Petersburg and the I-85 intersection – New museum features seven galleries exploring the life of the common soldier in camp, on the march and in battle. Other park features include a restored 1812 plantation house, a "field quarter" with excellent slavery interpretation, and a walking tour following the course of a Federal attack on the site that overwhelmed Confederate defenders. Restaurant and Civil War shop on site. Regularly scheduled living history programs offered. Park and museum open 9 am–5 pm daily (open later during summer). $15 adults. 877-PAMPLIN.

Siege Museum, Old Town on Bank Street – This quality museum highlights events and lifestyles during the city's Civil War siege. Located in a beautiful antebellum public building. Film. Restrooms. Shop. Open 10 am–5 pm daily. $5 adults.

Centre Hill Mansion, Old Town – This 1823 mansion is said to be haunted (at least once a year) by Confederate troops. Restrooms. Shop. House tours. Open 10 am–5 pm daily. $5 adults.

Blandford Church and Cemetery, Crater Road – Confederate sentimentality enshrined in Tiffany stained glass windows in this 1735 church. Special Confederate burial section in the cemetery. This spot was the objective of the Union attack, never reached, during the battle of "The Crater." Part of the Petersburg museum system. Shop, restrooms and guided tours available in the interpretive center. Open 10 am–5 pm daily. $5 adults. Trails sign.

Quartermaster Museum, on the Fort Lee army base, east of Petersburg on Route 36 – Good Civil War displays are among interesting assortment of historic military uniforms and equipment. Open Tuesday–Friday 10 am–5 pm; Saturday–Sunday 11 am–5 pm. Free. 804-734-4203.

South Side Station, Old Town – This historic railroad station, located near the city visitor center, is the beginning of Virginia Civil War Trails' Lee's Retreat tour and the end of the 1864 Overland Campaign. Both radio stop and Lee vs. Grant interpretive sign here. Stop at the Petersburg visitor center for information about both driving tours.

Campbell’s Bridge, Trails sign located on the Petersburg side of the Route 36 Bridge over the Appomattox
 Road map 
   Part of Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army crossed to the north bank of the Appomattox River here the night of April 2, 1865 as he evacuated Petersburg. Lee ordered all the bridges burned following the crossing to impede Union pursuit. This portion of the Confederate army turned west, later re-crossing the Appomattox near Amelia C.H. The retreat ended at Appomattox CH April 9.

Fort Davis, Crater Road – One of a series of Union fortifications. This one built June 1864. Trails sign.

Fort Hays, Trails sign at the fort on Flank Road, Petersburg National Battlefield tour road – This Union fort was built shortly after fighting to capture one of the most important Confederate lifelines to Petersburg, the Weldon Railroad. The fort was built in August-September 1864 after the eventual capture of the railroad and represented the continuing Union movement to encircle the city.

June 9, 1864, battle, Trails sign on Graham Road (rear entrance to Cameron Field) – Sign marks the point where a Union cavalry assault against Petersburg was stopped by Confederate cavalry, artillery and a collection of city residents led by James Dearing.

See also Lee's Retreat, Southside Virginia.