Petersburg

In 1646, Fort Henry was built on the site of a Native American village. Later, a trading post was established. Several villages were founded in the region and in 1784 three of these villages, Petersburg, Blandford and Pocahontas, were combined as Petersburg town. In the Civil War, Petersburg, which guarded the southern approaches to Richmond, was under siege from 15 June 1864 to 3 April 1865.

In May and June 1864 a series of engagements were fought in the Wilderness region of Virginia. After failing to destroy Lee's army during that so-called Wilderness campaign, Grant slipped unnoticed from Confederate lines at Cold Harbor and moved on the city. Lee, who was forced to defend Petersburg in order to protect Richmond, entrenched his troops there. On 30 July 1864, Union forces exploded a mine under a part of the Confederate works and poured into the resulting 'Crater', but they were driven out with heavy losses. Grant gradually extended his left flank on the southwest of Petersburg in order to cut off Lee's supplies from the lower South. As a result, Lee was forced to spread his smaller army over many miles of entrenchments. Lee's resistance was finally broken with Sheridan's victory at the crossroads of Five Forks on 1 April 1865, which was followed by a general assault on the Petersburg lines. It was the last important battle of the Civil War and it caused Petersburg to fall on 3 April 1865. Union forces entered Richmond on the same day and Lee surrendered the remnants of his army at Appomattox Courthouse one week later.

In 1926, Petersburg National Battlefield was established. It encompasses much of the battle scene and many old earthworks and tunnels are preserved, including 'The Crater'. Other interesting sights in Petersburg include Blandford Cemetery, where some 30,000 Confederate dead were buried and Blandford Church, which was built between 1735 and 1737. Center Hill Mansion was built in 1823 and is now a museum. General William Mahone's home is now part of the public library.

Petersburg is a port of entry to the United States and an important tobacco market. It has industries, where cigarettes, luggage, clothing, furniture and chemicals are produced. Virginia State University is north of downtown, in the suburb of Ettrick. To the east is Fort Lee, which is now a U.S. army quartermaster center.

Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Petersburg is in the southeast of Virginia, on the Appomattox River, 40 km south of Richmond and 190 km south of Washington D.C. The city is politically independent and in no county.