What was the Siege of Petersburg?

After the Overland Campaign, Robert E. Lee's attempt to protect the Confederate Capital of Richmond shifted to Petersburg, where nearly a year of fighting and siege warfare against Ulysses S. Grants Union forces ensued. Co-Founder of the American Battlefield Trust Will Greene details one of the last major engagements of the Civil War.

The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[jankovarik]

I'm lovin' these short, information-packed videos!!!

[DeclanConnor-yj]

I was just in Petersburg a couple of days ago and it was my first time ever. Amazing place and is the greatest spot to visit if you want to see some nice defenses and forts.

[ctcdarkness]

I grew up less than a mile away from fort fisher. My house stood where one of the medical camps for the union was placed along the line of smaller dug outs behind fort fisher. The road I grew up on is actually called Fort fisher CT. Have been to pamplin park and the jones farm battlefield many times.

[dadsongs]

Sometimes, a video that explains why something WASN'T doesn't do it for me, but this one DID! Thanks so much.

[outdoorlife]

Petersburg was a lot more complicated than Vicksburg. First you had all the RR intersecting and the confederates put up more of a fight, I think. The other is I do not think Grant knew exactly what the enemies' numbers were. The way Lee kept moving people around. I am surprised that the battle of the crater was the only tunnel to the enemies' lines that I am aware of. If you look at the war, Richmond, like Washington, was always well defended when other parts of the csa where not. I am an old soldier and amateur historian, just thinking out loud. It doesn't make either one of us Right or Wrong. We have the pleasure of looking at it in the hindsight. Hindsight is 20/20, lol.

[nathanhardin]

My great great great grandfather was severely wounded at Petersburg on June 18th, 1864.

[stonesinmyblood]

Also in May 1864, Grant sent Gen Butler and navy ships to attack Petersburg but Butler gave up and just destroyed the rail line between Petersburg and Richmond

[terryeustice]

Thank you for sharing. Maybe some details will becoming. This almost a year Campaign.
❤️💯👊👍

[thewonderer]

Waiting for the next part in Mr. Greene's series on Petersburg lol

[donaldsonalan]

Sorry I'm being Grant right now but I love your videos

[jamesmccarthy]

A few months back I got a book on this Campaign. It’s called The Last Citadel by Noah Andre Trudeau. It looks good, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. ( gotta finish The Somme by Peter Hart first!) I find it interesting how this Siege is considered ok yet when McClellan wanted to do a Siege at Richmond and Yorktown he’s heavily criticized. Why?

[jankovarik]

I appreciated the better explanation of the concept of "siege"!

[tombrennan]

I appreciate your explaining what makes for a proper siege, which of course Petersburg wasn't: no investment-no siege. I consider it a fortified confrontation, like the Western Front during WW I but on a much smaller scale.

[DanKetchum]

Good. But something lengthier and more detailed would be great.

[Tadicuslegion]

Longest campaign....barely known, talked about, or examined.