Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR · March 3, 1849] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, _Secretary_ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, _Director_ _HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER THIRTEEN_ This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. Price 25 cents. PETERSBURG _National Military Park, Virginia_ _by Richard Wayne Lykes_ [Illustration: Wickerware.] NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES NO. 13 Washington, D. C., 1951 (Reprint 1961) _The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people._ [Illustration: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR] _Contents_ _Page_ The Union Strategy of 1864 2 The Strategic Importance of Petersburg 4 The Battle of Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864 8 First Union Attempt on the Weldon Railroad 11 The Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864 12 The Fight for the Weldon Railroad 22 Union Encirclement Continues 25 The South Strikes Back—the Battle of Fort Stedman 34 Union Encirclement Becomes a Reality 39 The Fall of the City 43 Guide to the Area 46 How to Reach the Park 55 Administration 56 Related Areas 56 Visitor Facilities 56 TABLE OF EVENTS I. Events in 1864 Preceding the Campaign