Petersburg • East • Southeast • West • Monuments • Markers • Facts • Timeline
The Union siege lines now extended southwest beyond the Jerusalem Plank Road and threatened the Weldon Railroad, just two miles to the west. The Confederates manned their Dimmock Line defences for a mile west of Jeursalem Plank Road. Mahone’s Division was stationed inside the defenses at the Weldon Railroad to act as a mobile reserve, able to move behind the lines to a threatened sector or quickly march down Halifax Road to counter another Union flanking move.
Meanwhile, in the center of the siege lines Union troops had been excavating a tunnel for four weeks, making their way under a Confederate redoubt which would soon come to be known as “The Crater.” The plan was to pack the tunnel with explosives and blow away the Confederate defenses. Their corps commander, Ambrose Burnside, loved the idea and presented it to Meade, adding an overwhelming attack through the hole in the line. Neither Meade nor Grant had much confidence in the plan, but allowed it to proceed.
The mine was dug by Pennsylvania coal miners who overcame serious engineering obstacles and an almost total lack of support from high command. (see ‘Digging the Mine‘) The Confederate defenders became suspicious of the activity and reinforced in depth the defences in the target area. On July 27 Grant launched attacks north of the James River near Richmond to draw Confederate reserves from the Petersburg area.
[previous battle map, June 21-24, 1864] [Main Timeline] [next battle map, July 30, 1864]