• Poplar Grove National Cemetery Luminary Event (photo courtesy of Joanne Williams)

    Petersburg

    National Battlefield Virginia

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Jerusalem Plank Road

Prelude

On June 21, several days after the initial attack, the Union II Corps, supported by the VI Corps attempted to cut the Weldon Railroad, one of the major supply lines into Petersburg.



June 22, 1864

On June 22, troops from Gen. A.P. Hill's (CSA) corps led by Gen. William Mahone(CSA) and Gen. Cadmus Wilcox (CSA) counterattacked, forcing the II and VI Corps away from approaching the Weldon Railroad back to the Jerusalem Plank Road.



Aftermath

Although the Federals were driven from their advanced positions, they were able to extend their siege lines farther south and west across the Jerusalem Plank Road and established Fort Davis.



Back to Battles of the Siege

Did You Know?

Former Slaves at City Point, Virginia

Slaves who entered Union lines and came to City Point, Virginia (present day Hopewell) during the Siege of Petersburg, were typically employed unloading ships and working in the hospitals. (Petersburg National Battlefield)