‘medal of honor’ by Don Troiani

fall of Petersburg and Richmond (february 5 – april 2 1865)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

During the winter both combatants remained quiescent in the trenches around Petersburg.

‘Mahone’s counterattack’ by Don Troiani

siege of Petersburg june – october 1864

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As most of the railroads which served Lee’s army and Richmond – the confederate capital – passed through Petersburg, in june 1864 the city became the target for general Grant’s army of the Potomac.

‘the forlon hope’ by Don Troiani

assaults at Petersburg (june 16-18 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

The federal plan for the capture of Petersburg called for general William Smith’s 18th corps to advance from its Bermuda Hundred enclave, and assault the city’s defenses from the east.

‘Chamberlain at Petersburg’ by Dan Nance

the siege of Petersburg 1864-65

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

The army of the Potomac moved south from Cold Harbor and crossed the James river in another attempt to force Lee out from his trenches by flanking his army and seizing the key railroad junction at Petersburg, Virginia, just south of Richmond.

Cold Harbour to Petersburg (june 4-15 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Following its repulse at Cold Harbour on june 3, the army of the Potomac entrenched opposite its opponent.

Winfield Scott Hancock marker Gettysburg battlefield

A marker erected on Hancock avenue in 1888 shows where Hancock was wounded during Pickett’s charge.

North Carolina monument Fox gap battlefield

The North Carolina monument on South mountain is on Wise’s farm in Fox’s gap about 1.000 feet south of the Garland and Reno monuments along Reno monument road.

the battles of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor 1864

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

Time and again as Grant attacked through rural Virginia, Lee moved his army quickly before establishing powerful defensive lines.

Spotsylvania : phase 2 (may 13-19 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As Lee improved his new defenses along the base of the ‘mule shoe’ salient, Grant and Meade shifted the bulk of the federal army east to attack Spotsylvania from another angle.

‘the bonnie blue flag’ by Don Troiani

‘a brigade today – we’ll try a corps tomorrow’ by Rick Reeves

Spotsylvania : phase 1 (may 8-12 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Determined to press on with their campaign against Lee, Grant and Meade ordered the federal army south to Spotsylvania Court House.

overland campaign map

Chancellorsville 1863 – origins of the campaign

source : ‘Chickamauga 1863 – Jackson’s lighting strike’ campaign 055, Osprey publishing

Chancellorsville, a lone farmhouse situated at the junction of two roads a few miles west of Fredericksburg, lies fifty miles north of Richmond and twenty-five miles east of Culpeper, south of the Rappahannock river and near the eastern edge of the Spotsylvania wilderness.

‘Lee to the rear’ by Rick Reeves

‘Hazel Grove’ by Rick Reeves

‘South mountain’ by Rick Reeves

‘trust in god and do not fear anything’ by Rick Reeves

‘1862 Bull Run – irish brigade’ by Rick Reeves

‘run up the elevation screw and give them hell boys’ by Rick Reeves

4th US artillery led by brigadier general John Gibbon at Sharpsburg MD 17 sept 1862

‘confederate twilight’ by Dan Nance