We admit that Richmond is a fantastic place for a Civil War vacation. So much action happened around the Confederate capital that it’s place of prominence cannot be denied. Nevertheless, we suggest that there is another vacation hub that perhaps is more affordable and just a little bit closer to some amazing places in American history. We are talking about Petersburg, Virginia.
The Siege
Petersburg claim to fame in the American Civil War rests on the siege. It lasted from June 1864 to April 1865, and when Lee abandoned his defenses, the war was destined to be over shortly. The Petersburg National Battlefield is obviously a place for any Civil War vacation or to visit. There are self-guided tours and nearly 10 miles of nature trails that permit bicycling, running, and hiking. There also are some trails especially designated for horseback riding. Guided tours are also available during the summer.
Other Places Near By
The Petersburg National Battlefield is not the only Civil War attraction in the neighborhood. The Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a few minutes from downtown Petersburg. It has been referred to as the new crown jewel of Civil War sites in America with a world-class museum. The Tudor Hall Plantation and the Bank’s House the headquarters for General Grant, are well worth a visit.
Other Petersburg attractions include the Tombstone House. This is a very unique residence that is a testimony to siege of Petersburg. It is made from the marble tombstones of Union soldiers who were buried in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery. Budget cutbacks during the Great Depression made upkeep of the marble tombstones too expensive. Petersburg cut the top halves of over 2000 tombstones and sold part of them to a Petersburg residence, who then use them to construct the house. This is private property, and you have to restrict your visit to driving by it but it is worth seeing.
Petersburg was the end point of the Overland Campaign, and some major battlegrounds are within driving distance.
The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park can be considered a Civil War mega park. The park covers the Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Courthouse battlefields. Total area of the park is 7600 acres, and each battlefield has its own unique attractions. There are two visitors’ centers
located at the Chancellorsville battlefield and the Fredericksburg battlefield respectively. guided tours are available and there are numerous special events. We strongly suggest that you have a good pair of walking shoes when you visit this park. There are 23 miles of trails, 6500 acres of forest, and 1100 acres of open fields. Your definitely get your exercise with this visit.
The NPS App can provide additional information about tours available in the park, and the app can be purchased at the Apple Store or at Google Play.
Transportation, Hotels, and Dining
The Petersburg National Battlefield is 17 miles outside of Petersburg. There is a sixteen-stop driving tour that covers the 4 units of the 2700-acre park grounds. The Park is ordinarily its busiest at 3PM.
Petersburg is approximately 74 miles from Fredericksburg. There is an Amtrak train line from Petersburg to Fredericksburg and the trip by rail takes a little over an hour. The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is designed for driving tours, so going by car is the best option. There are Maps and Driving Directions to help you get around.
There are several affordable options for hotel rooms in Petersburg, and the price per night ranges from $46 to $129.
Petersburg has some great restaurants, and the main dishes are American cuisine.
History’s Sad Consequences
There is a historical irony that revolves around Petersburg. It was the introduction of large-scale trench warfare that could last for months with neither side getting the upper hand until the very end. Both Confederate and Union armies had foreign observers who were watching.
Those gentlemen obviously reported back to their superiors in Europe about what was going on. We are not sure how seriously those reports were taken in countries that still believed in the grand Napoleonic sweep of battle. Cavalry assaults and heroic charges across the field were still the stuff of strategy. The bloodied battles of World War I began approximately 50 years later. The same assault tactics were used, and many were mowed down by machine guns raking the charging lines.
It is sad to think that European military leaders did not pay close attention to what happened at Petersburg. Hundreds of thousands of lives could have been saved had those same generals adapted strategies that emphasized how to win a fight in the trenches.
Civil War Vacations! 