Confederate Fort Whitworth
Posted by: 
showbizkid
N 37° 12.310 W 077° 27.594
18S E 281699 N 4120467
A marker noting the location of one of two forts constructed to protect the western approaches to Petersburg during the siege of 1864-1865. This marker was placed in 1994.
Waymark Code: WMKEH
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 08/08/2006
Views: 14
The marker reads:
CONFEDERATE FORT WHITWORTHNamed for the Whitworth family of Mayfield, the
farm on which it was built, this outpost (a quarter-
mile east) and Fort Gregg, 400 yards to the
south, were constructed to protect the western
approaches to Petersburg during the 1864-1865
siege. On 2 April 1865, when Gen. U.S. Grant's
army attacked the city after turning Gen. R.E. Lee's
flank at Five Forks the day before, the forts were
the scene of intense fighting. The Union XXIV
Corps captured the two positions, suffering 714
casualties. The Confederates lost about 300 men
in a stubborn defense that delayed the Union
advance for two hours, enabling Lee to withdraw
his army safely that night and begin the westward
march that ended a week later at Appomattox
Court House.
Click on the web address below for a brief, but comprehensive article on the battle of April 2, 1865.