Following the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg in July 1863, concern over Lynchburg’s lack of defenses led Gen. Francis Nicholls, the post commander, to prepare a series of earthen redoubts and trenches at strategic points that took advantage of the city’s topography. He designed the earthen redoubt here to protect an artillery battery covering the Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike (Fort Ave.). When Union Gen. David Hunter attacked Lynchburg in June 1864, he advanced from the west along the turnpike. Confederate reinforcements commanded by Gen. Jubal A. Early began arriving on June 17 and quickly entrenched along a line centered on this fort to receive the initial Federal assault. Lt. Carter Berkley placed his guns in the redoubt and opened fire at about 4 o’clock that afternoon, and fighting continued in front of the fort until dark. During the night the Confederates extended their trenches and successfully repelled Federal attacks throughout June 18. After failing to break through Early’s defenses, Hunter ordered a retreat, and by dawn on Sunday, June 19, the Union army was gone.