Battle Of Petersburg, 25 April 1781--Second Line Of Defense

Petersburg County · dedicated 2005 · Madison Street, in vicinity of YMCA

On 25 Apr. 1781, American Brig. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg's Virginia militia fell back west from Blandford, under heavy British fire, to a prepared line of defense here along the crest of this hill. This second line of Virginia militia, consisting of four regiments of infantry, extended from the Appomattox River on the north and present-day Washington Street to the south of here. The Virginians repelled several British assaults, but soon their ammunition ran low and, after Maj. Gen. William Phillips unleashed his artillery, Maj. Gen. Friedrich von Steuben, the overall American commander, ordered a retreat west toward the Pocahontas Bridge.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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