Pamplin Park • Breakthrough Trail • Tudor Hall • Fortifications • Markers • Timeline
Brother vs. Brother
Near here, the 6th Maryland Infantry (Union) made their penetration of the Confederate fortifications. Major Clifton K. Prentiss, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, helped lead his unit in the Breakthrough only to fall wounded with a rifle ball in his chest.
Some distance to your right and a little later in the battle, Private William S. Prentiss also suffered a severe wound, one that would require the amputation of his right leg. William Prentiss served in the 2nd Maryland Battalion, a Confederate unit.
William and Clifton were brothers. As in so many families from border states like Maryland, the Civil War had driven a wedge between these two young men. Their service in opposing armies brought them together on this battlefield, although under tragic circumstances.
Sidebar:
The Confederates created this narrow opening in their fortifications to allow pickets to go back and forth from their posts, for wood-gathering parties to scavenge for timber, and to permit the men to use the latrines which were located in front of their works. A number of these gaps existed along the entire Confederate line.
The earthwork running perpendicular to the main fortifications is the remains of an engineering device known as a traverse. Originally, another section of earthwork would have connected with this one to create an “L” shaped fortification behind the main line to protect the narrow opening. These gaps attracted the attention of Union attackers during the Breakthrough as a potential path of least resistance.
Caption at upper right for the main illustration:
An artist’s conception of how this area appeared during the winter of 1865.
Caption above the photo at left
Major Clifton K. Prentiss had this photograph taken in early 1865. After his death, he was awarded brevet promotions to the ranks of lieutenant colonel and colonel of his regiment.
Note: both brothers were united and laid next to each other, although at first Cifton refused, saying, “I want to see no man who fired on my country’s flag.” After his colonel pleaded with him he relented, and the brothers had a tearful reunion. Sadly, both died of their wounds in the next four months. They are buried next to each other.
Location of the marker
The Brother vs. Brother wayside marker is on the Breakthrough trail at Pamplin Historical Park near Petersburg, Virginia. (37° 10.865′ N, 77° 28.456′ W)