An Illustrated Encyclopedia
of the
Siege of Petersburg
Note: This encyclopedia focuses on the eastern front at Petersburg, at least for the time being. In the future, it will be expanded to cover the western, rear, and City Point lines and battles.
For an alphabetized index to this encyclopedia go [here]. For definitions of military and engineering terms see the [glossary].
For an alphabetized index to this encyclopedia go [here]. For definitions of military and engineering terms see the [glossary].
the battlefield |
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siege warfare at petersburg
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the union lines
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the confederate lines
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combat
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CHRONOLOGY OF FEDERAL FORTIFICATIONS
From narrative collated from reports of
Col. N. Michler, Official Records Serial 126:173-182
Jul 30, 1864 Battle of the Crater
Jul 31 Sites selected for forts Rice, Meikel, Morton, Haskell, Stedman, McGilvery
Decision to enlarge “lunette” on site occupied by Fort Sedgwick
Aug 18-26 Offensive against the Weldon Railroad
Sites selected on Weldon railroad for works at Burnt Chimney and the Strong house (Fort Dushane), Forts Wadsworth, Howard, and Alexander Hays, line selected for military railroad to join Weldon near Globe Tavern. Confederates improve Squirrel Level Road line, extend ing from near Battery 40 to Fort MacRae
Sep 7 Corduroy roads, entanglements, slashings, under construction. Line traced from Fort Dushane to the rear of the camps, left resting near Fort Bross—Forts Davison McMahon, Stevenson, Blaisdell, and Kelly
Sep 17 Length of main line over 16 miles, consisting of 19 forts and redoubts, 41 batteries, old Confederate entrenchments leveled. Line of works traced from Blackwater Swamp north toward Old Court House on Bailey’s Creek to James River, to complete circuit of 25 miles, “entirely encircling the Army of the Potomac.” Three works on rear line under construction.
Sep 26 Military railroad completed to Globe Tavern, approved for service
Sep 29-Oct 3 Poplar Springs Church Offensive (Peebles and Pegram farms)
Line selected from near Pegram house to connect with Fort Wadsworth
Oct 4 Line selected to connect from near Pegram house in rear of Fort Dushane
Oct 8 Forts Keene, Urmston, Conahey, Fisher, Welch, Gregg, Cummings, Sampson,
Emery, Siebert, Clarke, and several batteries nearly completed. Three-mile line at City Point under construction. Earthworks now extend 23 miles in a continuous stretch from the Appomattox to Blackwater Swamp. Line to James River would add about 9 miles—36 forts and fifty batteries.
Oct 24 Two new redoubts thrown up near Avery and Friend houses
Oct 26-28 First Hatcher’s Run Offensive (Boydton Plank Road)
Nov 12 Rear line from Blackwater Swamp to Bailey’s Creek completed
Dec 6-7 Aborted Federal movement on Weldon Railroad
Feb 5-7, 1865 Second Hatcher’s Run Offensive
Line selected to connect Fort Sampson and Vaughan Road crossing of Hatcher’s Run. Front line from Appomattox River to Hatcher’s Run now about 15 miles in length.
Jan-Mar Earthworks enclosed and strengthened all along the lines to free as many troops as possible to participate in spring operations. Fort Fisher redesigned and rebuilt, beginning in January.
From narrative collated from reports of
Col. N. Michler, Official Records Serial 126:173-182
Jul 30, 1864 Battle of the Crater
Jul 31 Sites selected for forts Rice, Meikel, Morton, Haskell, Stedman, McGilvery
Decision to enlarge “lunette” on site occupied by Fort Sedgwick
Aug 18-26 Offensive against the Weldon Railroad
Sites selected on Weldon railroad for works at Burnt Chimney and the Strong house (Fort Dushane), Forts Wadsworth, Howard, and Alexander Hays, line selected for military railroad to join Weldon near Globe Tavern. Confederates improve Squirrel Level Road line, extend ing from near Battery 40 to Fort MacRae
Sep 7 Corduroy roads, entanglements, slashings, under construction. Line traced from Fort Dushane to the rear of the camps, left resting near Fort Bross—Forts Davison McMahon, Stevenson, Blaisdell, and Kelly
Sep 17 Length of main line over 16 miles, consisting of 19 forts and redoubts, 41 batteries, old Confederate entrenchments leveled. Line of works traced from Blackwater Swamp north toward Old Court House on Bailey’s Creek to James River, to complete circuit of 25 miles, “entirely encircling the Army of the Potomac.” Three works on rear line under construction.
Sep 26 Military railroad completed to Globe Tavern, approved for service
Sep 29-Oct 3 Poplar Springs Church Offensive (Peebles and Pegram farms)
Line selected from near Pegram house to connect with Fort Wadsworth
Oct 4 Line selected to connect from near Pegram house in rear of Fort Dushane
Oct 8 Forts Keene, Urmston, Conahey, Fisher, Welch, Gregg, Cummings, Sampson,
Emery, Siebert, Clarke, and several batteries nearly completed. Three-mile line at City Point under construction. Earthworks now extend 23 miles in a continuous stretch from the Appomattox to Blackwater Swamp. Line to James River would add about 9 miles—36 forts and fifty batteries.
Oct 24 Two new redoubts thrown up near Avery and Friend houses
Oct 26-28 First Hatcher’s Run Offensive (Boydton Plank Road)
Nov 12 Rear line from Blackwater Swamp to Bailey’s Creek completed
Dec 6-7 Aborted Federal movement on Weldon Railroad
Feb 5-7, 1865 Second Hatcher’s Run Offensive
Line selected to connect Fort Sampson and Vaughan Road crossing of Hatcher’s Run. Front line from Appomattox River to Hatcher’s Run now about 15 miles in length.
Jan-Mar Earthworks enclosed and strengthened all along the lines to free as many troops as possible to participate in spring operations. Fort Fisher redesigned and rebuilt, beginning in January.
