Petersburg, Va. – Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is holding a 157th Breakthrough Battle Anniversary event on April 2, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At 4:40 a.m. April 2, 1865, some 14,000 Union soldiers moved forward in the chilly gloom toward the Confederate fortifications six miles southwest of Petersburg. Less than an hour later, the American flag flew over the Confederate line following one of the most important battles of the entire Civil War. This engagement led directly to the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. One week later, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House and our nation began the long process of healing.
The Park is hosting a full schedule of activities and programs for walk-in visitors. Visitors will have the opportunity to drill with the troops, see demonstrations and more. A tour of the Breakthrough Battlefield will allow guests to see the fortification and fields where the battle was fought and hear the moving stories of the Prentiss brothers and others who were present during the fighting.
Captain Charles G. Gould of the Union's 5th Vermont Volunteer Infantry was the first man to enter the enemy works and he later received a Medal of Honor for his efforts. Visitors will be able to meet an actor portraying Gould and hear of his harrowing tale from the early hours of April 2, 1865. The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration for acts of valor in combat. Author John Selby will also be presenting a discussion on Union General George Meade and his performance during the Petersburg Campaign. Selby will be available afterwards for a book signing of his work “Meade: The Price of Command” and his book will be available for purchase.
These programs are included with Park admission. Daily admission for adults is $15, seniors (65+) and Military w/ID $12.00, children (6-12) $8, and children under 6 free.
One of “Virginia’s Best Places to Visit” according to the Travel Channel, and designated as a National Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 424-acre Civil War campus located in Dinwiddie County, Virginia offering a combination of high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. The Park has four world-class museums and four antebellum homes. The Park is also the site of The Breakthrough Battlefield of April 2, 1865 and America’s premiere participatory experience, Civil War Adventure Camp. For more information, please call 804-861-2408 or visit www.pamplinpark.org.
Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional images or information.
Colin Romanick, Director of Marketing & Development
Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
pamplinpark.org 804-861-2408