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.)
After a drive through the cemetery grounds the tour returns to State
Route 675 (17.9). _Turn right_ and drive north to the junction (18.3)
with State Route 676 which intersects 675 on the left. A _turn_ is made
on Route 676. That route is followed to the end, where it connects with
State Route 613 (19.1), known to history as the SQUIRREL LEVEL ROAD.
[Illustration: _The moat and embankments of Union Fort Davis._]
25. Union FORT URMSTON was constructed in the autumn and early winter of
1864 on the west side of the Squirrel Level Road. It was named in honor
of a Union officer killed at the Battle of Peebles’ Farm (September
29-October 1, 1864). The heaviest fighting of this engagement took place
around Peebles’ Farm, three-quarters of a mile southwest of here.
_Turn left_ on State Route 613 and continue to the intersection (19.6)
with State Route 672 (CHURCH ROAD). State Route 672 is the right fork at
this intersection. _Turn_ on this road and continue in a northwest
direction.
26. FORT FISHER (20.3) is situated on the right side of the road. This
Union stronghold is in an excellent state of preservation, and it is one
of the largest earthen forts constructed in the Civil War. Fort Fisher
played an important part in the campaign after it was built in late
1864. Near it was a 150-foot Union watchtower used to observe enemy
movements and to spot artillery fire. Behind it, a short distance to the
south, was a field of execution for military offenders and spies where,
according to one observer, violators paid the supreme penalty nearly
every week. It was a signal gun from Fort Fisher which boomed the
beginning of the final assault on the defenses of Petersburg, April 2,
1865.
27. FORTS WELCH and GREGG. On the left of the road the Union line
continues to these forts, the remains of which are not visible from the
road.
The tour is resumed on State Route 672, or Church Road. This runs from
the Union to the Confederate line. The road crosses the tracks of the
Seaboard Air Line Railroad and, later, overpasses the Norfolk and
Western Beltline Railroad. The direction of the tour is north toward the
Appomattox River (21.8). _Turn right_ at the intersection with State
Route 603 and continue to the end of State Route 672 (21.3) where it
intersects State Route 142. This road (142) was named the BOYDTON PLANK
ROAD at the time of the siege. _Turn right_ on State Route 142. The
direction of the tour is east along the Confederate defense line which
was built south of Petersburg.
28. Confederate FORT GREGG (22.4). The partially destroyed remains of
this fort are located nearly opposite a Union fort of the same name.
Fort Gregg is situated about 100 yards to the left, or north, of the
highway. It is memorable for the desperate struggle it put up against
the Union attack on April 2, 1865. When it fell, the last Confederate
stronghold on the outer line west of the city was in Northern hands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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