Petersburg National Battlefield Photos

Petersburg National Battlefield circles south around the town of Petersburg, following the lines where the South made its final stand. Grant's troops arrived at this back door to Richmond on June 15, 1864, but Union commanders failed to act quickly enough. Grant resorted to a siege which lasted until April, 1865. During those months the South starved, while Union troops were supplied by a vast fleet of ships arriving at nearby Hopewell, where supplies were loaded directly onto rail cars on specially built track running to the front. One noted action during the siege was the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864. Union sappers had tunneled under Confederate lines with the intent of charging through the gap. However, troops were trapped in the resulting crater and the Southern lines held. The Battlefield is now run by the National Park Service.

Click thumbnail to enlarge. F11 to view website full screen.


Confederate battery on Eastern Front of Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Collection of artillery at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Canon on earthwork at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Canon on Confederate earthwork at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.

Union defenses of siege encampment on Eastern Front at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Trenches of Union siege encampment at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Trenches of Union siege encampment at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Union siege trenches at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.

Union canon emplacement at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Union soldiers hut at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Union Fort Steadman, lost & recaptured March 25, 1865, at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Canons on Petersburg National Battlefield siege line. Petersburg, VA.

Canon on Petersburg National Battlefield siege line. Petersburg, VA.	Canon facing Confederate earthworks at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Earthworks landscape of Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Landscape of Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.

Farmhouse ruins at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Tunnel used by Union sappers under Confederate lines at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Location of Battle of the Crater (July 30, 1864) at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Monument to South Carolina troops who kept Union troops from fighting their way out of the Crater (July 30, 1864) at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.

Pennsylvania & other monuments at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Caretaker's house at Poplar Grove National Cemetery of Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Graves of Poplar Grove National Cemetery at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.	Grave of H. Leanard 4958 of PA in Poplar Grove National Cemetery at Petersburg National Battlefield. Petersburg, VA.

Battle of the Crater (July 30, 1864) painting (1951) by John Elder at Siege Museum. Petersburg, VA.


See Also:	Petersburg, VA