Petersburg • East • Southeast • West • Monuments • Markers • Timeline
Stop Five on the Petersburg Eastern Front Auto Tour is Fort Stedman. The earthworks of the fort are next to the parking area. A half mile paved walking trail that takes visitors through some of the important terrain of the area also starts here.
The entrance to the earthworks of Fort Stedman is just a few yards from the parking area at Stop 5.
This area played an important role in two stages of the Siege of Petersburg. In the first days of the Union attack, on June 18, 1864, the assault of the First Maine Heavy Artillery (operating as infantry) was thrown back, with the regiment losing the highest casualties of any regiment in any single battle of the Civil War. The walking trail follows the path of the attack out to the regiment’s monument.
After the failure of the initial Union attacks both sides settled down for the next nine months to trench warfare. Fort Stedman was built here, one of the major redoubts in the Union system of fortifications. It was named after Colonel Griffin A. Stedman of the 11th Connecticut Volunteers, who was mortally wounded near here in the fighting on August 5.
Near the end of the Siege, on March 25, 1865, Robert E. Lee launched a pre-dawn assault that overwhelmed and captured Fort Stedman, threatening the Union supply line. But immediate Union couterattacks recaptured the fort with heavy casualties to the Confederates. It was the last major attack of the Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War.
Markers and monuments near the Fort Stedman tour stop:
1st Maine Heavy Artillery monument
A Final Effort wayside marker
Colquitt’s Salient Trail marker
Colquitt’s Salient monument
Fort Stedman monument
Gracie’s Salient monument
Hare House
Fort Stedman wayside marker
Siege of Petersburg – Lee Strikes Back orientation marker
Wasted Valor wayside marker
Map to Tour Stop Five, Fort Stedman
Tour Stop Five on the Auto Tour is on the right side of Siege Road about 1.8 miles from the Visitor Center. (37°13’53.7″N 77°22’09.6″W)
Directions to the next stop on the Petersburg Eastern Front Auto Tour:
Continue on Siege Drive about 0.4 miles. The parking area for Stop Six is on the right.