Contested Ground

From here at Fort Welch, you can see the ground over which soldiers struggled during three distinct battles. On October 2, 1864, Federals advanced across the ground to your left in an attempt to capture the key Confederate intermediate supply route, the Boydton Plank Road, on the last day of the Battle of Peebles' Farm. The attack failed, but the Federals won a foothold and established the line of works in which you stand.

"There has not been a day nor an hour that out front line has not been in actual combat with the foe. Where can the student find a parallel to this in the warfare of any age or people?"—"John," Union war correspondent

"We only get five little crackers for one day rations. We don't get no meat now but about a twist a week. If that ain't hard times I don't know what hard times is."—Pvt. Francis Marion Poteeet, 49th North Carolina Infantry, CSA

On March 25, 1865, Federals attacked and captured the Confederate picket line to your front in what is known as the Battle of Jones Farm. That success formed the prelude to the massive Union attack across the entire field in front of you a week later, when on April 2 the Federals finally broke through the Southern lines. This attack is known as the Breakthrough, and it caused the entire Confederate front to collapse.

(captions)
In recent years the Civil War Trust and the National Park Service have worked to improve access and visibility around Fort Welch. Until 2014, the field in front of you was almost entirely wooded. - Courtesy Civil War Trust

Battle of Peebles' Farm—Union Advance
October 2, 1864

The Breakthrough
April 2, 1865

Battle of Jones Farm
March 25, 1865

Main Confederate Line
1 Mile
South Side Railroad
3 Miles
Boydton Plank Road
1.5 Miles
Main Confederate Line
1 Mile
Richmond
25 Miles
Petersburg
5 Miles

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