The Breakthrough Trail

— Pamplin Historical Park —

Near here, the 6th Maryland Infantry (Union) made their penetration of the Confederate fortifications. Major Clifton K. Prentiss, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, helped lead his unit in the Breakthrough only to fall wounded with a rifle ball in his chest.

Some distance to your right and a little later in the battle, Private William S. Prentiss also suffered a severe wound, one that would require the amputation of his right leg. William Prentiss served in the 2nd Maryland Battalion, a Confederate unit.

William and Clifton were brothers. As in so many families from border states like Maryland, the Civil War had driven a wedge between these two young men. Their service in opposing armies brought them together on this battlefield, although under tragic circumstances.

<Sidebar:> The Confederates created this narrow opening in their fortifications to allow pickets to go back and forth from their posts, for wood-gathering parties to scavenge for timber, and to permit the men to use the latrines which were located in front of their works. A number of these gaps existed along the entire Confederate line.

The earthwork running perpendicular to the main fortifications is the remains of an engineering device known as a traverse. Originally, another section of earthwork would have connected with this one to create an "L" shaped fortification behind the main line to protect the narrow opening. These gaps attracted the attention of Union attackers during the Breakthrough as a potential path of least resistance.

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Show me all markers in:  Petersburg, VA  |  23803  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

First Man Over the Works
1st Lieutenant Octavius Augustus Wiggins
Lieutenant Colonel George B. Damon
Confederate Winter Huts
Sergeant John E. Buffington
The Breakthrough
The Confederate Fortifications
Confederate Winter Quarters
Petersburg Breakthrough Battlefield
The Breakthrough Trail

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