Siege

Just south of Richmond is the City of Petersburg and before today I knew nothing of its history. In 1860, Petersburg was the second largest city in Virginia and the 11 largest in the South. It was a major economic and transportation center located on the Appomattox and James Rivers. Like Richmond, there were five railroads that emanated from the center of the city and it was the major supplier of materials to Lee's army and Richmond. It was an obvious target during the course of the war and by 1864 it was the center of the conflict in the East between Generals Lee and Grant. Grant saw Petersburg as the key to taking Richmond, the Capital of the Confederacy, and thus ending the War.

Petersburg's five railroad lines and key roadways made it an important target. If Grant's troops cut these transportation routes, Petersburg could no longer provide Richmond and Lee's army with much-needed supplies and equipment. Grant's forces arrived on the eastern edge of Petersburg in mid-June 1864. After several clashes, and a disastrous Union defeat at Cold Harbor, Grant abandoned plans to capture Richmond and concentrated his forces on Petersburg's eastern front.

In a nearly 10-month struggle - the longest siege on American soil - Grant's army gradually but relentlessly isolated Petersburg and cut Lee's supply lines from the south. The two armies dug elaborate defensive positions from which they fought - sometimes only yards apart. Throughout the siege, Petersburg's residents endured the danger of daily shelling and the pain of hunger as supplies slowed to a trickle.

In late 1864 and early 1865, a series of battles forced Lee to extend his thinly-manned lines for 37 miles in an arc below Petersburg. As he crept south and west, Grant gained possession of all the key rail lines except the South Side Railroad.

On April 1, 1865, Union General Sheridan smashed the Confederate forces under General George Pickett (yes, the same Pickett of "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg) during the Battle of Five Forks in what became know as "The Waterloo of the Confederacy."

On April 2, Grant ordered an all-out assault and Lee's right flank crumbled. On the night of April 2, Lee's army evacuated Petersburg by slipping north across the Appomattox River. That same night Jefferson Davis fled Richmond and one week later Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, 90 miles to the west of Petersburg.

This morning we visited Petersburg and our first stop was the Petersburg Visitors Center. To me, the Petersburg historic area is the most authentic appearing of any of the Civil War era places we have been.  The Visitors Center is housed in one of the oldest surviving bank buildings in the nation. The 1817 Farmers Bank has been restored and Isobel gave us a tour. She said that only men visited the bank and it was also used as a social gathering place for the men.  The "Cashier" who ran the bank was more of a bank president than what we think of by "cashier." He had living quarters above the bank, a separate kitchen building and garden and two slaves were provided by the bank for his convenience. The bank was allowed to print money as long as it held assets of comparable value, either in gold or commodities. We were not allowed to take pictures in this historic building, but when I asked Isobel if I could take her picture, she posed for me by the money printing press.

Isobel by the bank's money printing press.

From the outside, the bank, on the right, and the kitchen building in the center with the red roof, and the slave quarters in the brick building to the left.  

Historic train station about a block from the bank.  This site, and others in Petersburg, were used by Stephen Speilberg for the filming of the movie, "Lincoln."

Great old street, one of many, in the Petersburg historic district. Note the cobblestone streets which are difficult to walk and drive on.

A charming home just up the street from the train station.

Remains of warehouse buildings by the Appomattox River.

After leaving the bank and the Visitor's Center, we went to the Siege Museum to learn what life was like for civilians who lived through the 10-month Siege of Petersburg. Artifacts, photographs and a film, narrated by Joseph Cotten (famous actor from the 40s & 50s who was born and raised in Petersburg) showed the harsh conditions of this siege. 

No pictures allowed, but - Rhode Island connection - Vernon, the Museum interpreter, a tall, stately, African-American man, got his Master's degree at URI. He married a women from RI, but she was anxious to leave RI, so they moved to New York before relocating to Petersburg. 

Leaving Petersburg, we travelled the route that Lee and his troupes took after evacuating Petersburg. They travelled west and hoped to turn south to meet up with other troops in North Carolina, but Grant's forces in pursuit overtook them and on April 9, 1865, Lee surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House. It took us almost two hours to complete the drive.

To my surprise, Appomattox Court House is the name of a small community that was called that because the county courthouse was located in the village.  The National Historic Park Headquarters in located in the old courthouse, but the actual "surrender" took place in the McLean House, the finest house in the village. You can tour a number of buildings that are being resorted in the village, but we got there too late in the afternoon to do much more that visit the Park Headquarters, the book shop, and the McLean House.

The Tavern in the village.

Panorama view of a portion of the village.

Exterior of the McLean House.

Parlor where Lee andGrant met.

Master bedroom right across the hall from the parlor.

Children's bedroom up the stairs.  There were six children in the house at the time.

Lower level dining room.

Kitchen on the lower level, across the hall from the dining room.

McLean slave quarters on the left. Corner of the back of the McLean house (red brick). The building on the right with two chimneys is the kitchen.  McLean made his money in the commodities trading business.  He hoarded sugar and made money when it became scarce.

This year is the 150 anniversary of the beginning of the Siege of Petersburg.  We are actually two weeks early for the official beginning of the commemoration.