Two
exhausted armies, ten bloody months
Historians explain the grim Siege of
Petersburg at Lincoln Presidential Library Feb. 5
Send a link to a friend
[February 04, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD
– As the Civil War neared its end, the exhausted armies found
themselves in a deadly stalemate, facing each other in a system of
trench lines ringing both Petersburg and the Confederate capital of
Richmond. The soldiers dug in for 10 bloody months, with the
Confederates repulsing a series of Union assaults.
|
The often-overlooked Siege of Petersburg will be the
focus of a presentation by two historians at the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum on Feb. 5.
Using maps, photos and soldiers’ own words, Mark DePue and Bob Davis
will examine the brutal campaign for Petersburg, beginning with the
Union’s near-victory in June 1864 through the bitter winter of
1864-65. The Union disaster at the Battle of the Crater will get
special attention.
This free event is part of Illinois’ observance of the 150th
anniversary of the Civil War. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s
Union Theater.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/02/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png) Reservations can be made by visiting
www.presidentlincoln.gov
and clicking on “Special event tickets and reservations” or by
calling 217-558-8934.
The siege introduced America to the grinding trench warfare that
would be common during World War I. It also saw the large-scale use
of African-American troops and a daring but tragic attempt to
penetrate Confederate lines with a single huge explosion.
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/02/images/ads/current/tourism_lda_121014.png) Dr. Mark DePue is director of the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum’s oral history program. Bob
Davis is a reenactor with the 29th U.S. Colored Troops and a
scholar on African-American contributions to the war effort.
April 9th will mark the final presentation in the presidential
library’s series on major Civil War battles, with the focus on
Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/02/images/ads/current/cca_laptop-sda021709.png) |