Battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse Va., March 31, 1865

including the ones at Chattanooga, Vicksburg, Charleston, Port Hudson  and Petersburg.  Arguably, the longest land siege, was at the latter and it lasted about 10 months. It occurred toward the end of Grant’s overland campaign to capture Richmond. Grant was deterred from his goal by a fierce and well-organized resistance which lasted from June 15, 1864 to April 2, 1865. Grant’s troops had surrounded the south and east sides of Petersburg leaving west side still open to operations of the Southside railroad that kept some meager supplies still flowing into Petersburg. 

the Union army sent General Phil Sheridan on to the western end of the  line to advance on the Five Forks. He was stopped overnight at Dinwiddie Court House due to heavy rain. On March 31st he advanced toward Five Forks only to meet significant Confederate resistance, and was forced back toward the Court House. Heavily reinforced overnight, on April 1st the Union again advanced on the now-entrenched Confederates. Vastly outnumbered, the Confederate forces withdrew, in the process allowing the vital South Side Railroad to fall into Union hands.  At this point Lee’s entire army departed from Petersburg, only to surrender to Grant eight days later at Appomattox. 

from one pine tree located within a mile or so from Dinwiddie Court  house as shown in the photo above. Only recently did this tree die.  A number of pine trees still grow in the area of Dinwiddie Courthouse that contain bullets fired during this heavy military engagement. The wood of these pines is commonly called heart pine and  it can originate from Loblolly, Long -leaf, Short- leaf or Pond Pine. A piece of wood with a bullet in it was obtained from Ian Workman and made into the pen as shown. The lead in the wood is comparable to that of a 58 caliber minie ball. 

against Robert E. Lee ended in mid- June in 1864 with the Battle of Petersburg.  The Battle lasted several  days and it was followed by the longest semi-siege in American Military  history which Grant’s attempt to take Richmond by denying supplies to  Lee’s army via Petersburg. The 9 month’s siege was peppered with  fighting a trench –like warfare. However,  the most interesting and unusual military maneuver during this time was  the battle of the Crater. After Pennsylvania coal miners dug a 510 foot  tunnel, on July 30,  1864 8,000 pounds of powder were set off, killing 300 South Carolinian's  and forming the Crater. 

for the Union army since their troops poured into the crater and were easy targets for the Confederates who swarmed to its edges only to find many easy targets. Ultimately, in the end Grant was successful at getting around Lee’s flank at the Battle of Five Forks. Lee’s defenses collapsed and he was forced to abandon the city. This led to his fateful march along the Appomattox river eastward  to his final surrender on April 9, 1865. 

a long-leaf pine stem in which a mini- ball had become lodged. It was obtained from Joshua’s Attic, Pa. The tree was located in the Petersburg – Five Forks area in  the exact location of the battle. The writing portion of the pen is  made from the most famous of all witness trees – The Burnside Bridge  Sycamore located at Antietam, Maryland. The pen is thus a hybrid – one of only a few in the entire Strobel collection.  

had quickly moved out of a nine month long siege of Petersburg to the west along the Appomattox River. General Lee’s ultimate goal was to link up with General Joe Johnston in North Carolina, unite forces and continue the war. However, near Appomattox Station, just to the west of Appomattox Courthouse, the westward movement of the Confederate Army was abruptly halted. One last attempt of a breakout was led by General John Brown Gordon and his artillery. 

Tibbs farm and fierce fighting broke out near the farm home. Today, the old farm house is gone but the foundation and old oak tree still stands nearby. In fact, it is within view of the McLean Home where the surrender of General Lee to General Grant was signed on April 9, 1865.   

provided me with a nice box of cut pieces of the Tibbs white oak made from a dead stem of the tree for pen making  purposes. In fact, he provided enough wood for me to make a set of pens and other objects annually for the Friends of Appomattox sale each year which provides support for the  battlefield. The rangers at Appomattox are truly a wonderful group of folks who dearly love the site and wish the best visit to all who go there.