Petersburg National Military Park, VirginiaLykes, Richard Wayne
History
Petersburg National Military Park, Virginia
Lykes, Richard Wayne
Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- Siege, 1864-1865; Petersburg National Battlefield (Va.)
17. FORT DAVIS. Continue on U. S. 301 until you come to this fort, on
the right of the highway (12.5). It is one of the best remaining
examples of Union works. Near here Grant launched his first attack on
the WELDON RAILROAD on June 21-22, 1864, but was driven back. Within the
fort, evidences of “bombproofs” and traversing trenches still exist.
_Turn right_ on to Flank Road at Fort Davis. This follows the Union
siege lines south and southwest of Petersburg. Low breastworks still
remain between the forts and batteries in many places.
18. FORT ALEXANDER HAYS (13.5). On the right of Flank Road may be seen
the almost completely obliterated remains of this fort. It was built in
August and September of 1864.
19. Union BATTERY 24 (13.9) Stands on the left of Flank Road. This, like
other batteries on both sides, was very active during the siege
operations. It participated in the final artillery barrage during the
night of April 1-2, 1865.
20. BATTERY 25 (14.4) will next be seen as you continue driving to the
west on the tour.
21. The site of FORT HOWARD is approximately one-third of a mile beyond
Battery 25, although not visible from the tour route. At Battery 25 the
Union line crosses Flank Road and continues north, or right, of the
road.
22. BATTERY 26 (15.3), like Battery 25, is found on the left. Near this
battery Flank Road recrosses the earthworks.
The next important landmark after passing Battery 26 is the junction
(16.0) of Flank Road with State Route 604 (Halifax Road). In front of
you is the monument to Johnson Hagood’s South Carolina brigade, and Fort
Wadsworth.
23. FORT WADSWORTH stands on the left, a short distance past this
intersection. This was a strategically located position for the Union
Army, as it was close to the tracks of the Weldon Railroad. In this
vicinity, but before Fort Wadsworth was built, the Battle of Globe
Tavern was fought on August 18-21, 1864. The site of GLOBE TAVERN is
about one-half mile southeast of Fort Wadsworth. Globe Tavern was Gen.
G. K. Warren’s headquarters during the August battle.
Directly west of Fort Wadsworth, Flank Road underpasses the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad. The tour continues straight west, following Union
infantry breastworks on the left, to the intersection (16.7) with State
Route 675. State Route 675 may be found mentioned in Civil War
dispatches as VAUGHAN ROAD. A _left turn_ is made on State Route 675.
24. The POPLAR GROVE NATIONAL CEMETERY entrance (16.2) is identified by
a marker. _Turn left_ on to the cemetery grounds. Poplar Grove is
situated on ground captured by the Union Army in the fight for the
Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. In the winter of 1864-65, the 50th New
York Engineers, encamped here, constructed a large log church. The
cemetery contains the graves of more than 6,000 soldiers and veterans,
of which over 4,000 are unknown. Nearly all are Union veterans of the
Civil War.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account