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Petersburg • East • Southeast • West • Monuments • Markers • Facts • Timeline

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The “Siege of Petersburg – Grant’s Fifth Offensive” orientation marker is at Stop Three of the driving tour on the northeast side of the intersection of Church Road and Flank Road. It is next to “The Largest Fort” wayside marker at the entrance to Fort Fisher.

From the marker:

Siege of Petersburg –
Grant’s Fifth Offensive

September 29 – October 2, 1864
Battle of Peeble’s Farm

Throughout the summer of 1864 Union General Ulysses S. Grant made several unsuccessful assaults against the Confederate defenses around Richmond and Petersburg. Then, in the fall of 1864, the Union won decisive victories on other fronts of the war. Encouraged, Grant ordered another wave of assaults against Petersburg and Richmond.

Simultaneously attacked at both cities, Confederate General Robert E. Lee came very close to abandoning Petersburg. But by the end of Grant’s fifth offensive Lee still held both cities and Grant had tightened the noose around Petersburg and Richmond.

From the map:

September 29 – 30, 1864 – Union forces capture New Market Heights and Confederate Fort Harrison. Lee orders nearly half his troops around Petersburg to march north to Richmond’s defense.

September 29 – October 2, 1864 – When Grant struck here south of Petersburg Lee turned around some of his troops to meet this new threat.