Breakthrough to Victory: Road to Appomattox

Address

6125 Boydton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone

804-861-2408 (8048612408)
City

Petersburg

Locality

Petersburg City
Social

4 days ; 3 nights

Walk The Hallowed Ground where the last months of the Civil War lead up to the surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Day 1:

Start the tour with Petersburg National Battlefield where the longest military event in the Civil War occurred.

Day 2:

Next, tour the Battle of Fort Gregg. On April 2, 1865, a small group of Confederate soldiers was able to hold off several thousand Union attackers long enough to allow General Lee to gather his forces on the inner defensive lines around Petersburg. This event is also known as “The Confederate Alamo”.

Visit the site where Union forces broke through Confederate lines on April 2, 1865 at Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. Experience the lives of the common soldier, civilian and enslaved people at this National Landmark 424-acre campus which features four historic homes, The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 5 miles of trails and the Breakthrough Battlefield.

Insiders Tip: All of the dining options in Petersburg can be found here: https://www.virginia.org/directory/dining/?city=petersburg

Along the route, tour the Battle of Namozine Church. On April 3, A brigade of Union cavalry under Col. William Well attacked Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry near Namozine Church.

Day 3:

Head over to Five Forks National Battlefield where on April 1, 1865, Confederate General Pickett was attacked by Union General Sheridan’s cavalry and General Warren’s US V Corps. The critical South Side Railroad lay beyond this vital crossroads, which supplied General R. E. Lee’s Confederate forces in Petersburg and Richmond. This decisive Union victory, cut the supply line and has been called the Confederate Waterloo.

Next, stop off at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park where, on April 6, 1865, nearly a quarter of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army, more than 7,700 men, were killed, wounded or captured here.

Stop off at the Battle of High Bridge. On April 6, 1865, the Confederate cavalry fought stubbornly to secure the Appomattox River bridges.

Insiders Tip: All of the dining options in Farmville can be found here: https://www.virginia.org/directory/dining/?city=farmville

Tour the Battle of Cumberland Church. on April 7, 1865 resulted in a Confederate victory prior to the surrender at Appomattox.

Day 4:

Conclude the tour at Appomattox Court House where the Civil War came to a close. On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House signaled the end of the nation's largest war.

Insiders Tip: All of the dining options in Appomattox can be found here: https://www.virginia.org/directory/dining/?city=appomattox