Battle of Jones Farm, March 25, 1865

On March 25, 1865, while fighting at Petersburg is usually remembered for the Battle of Fort Stedman, another clash at Jones Farm carried great significance. General Robert E. Lee tried to break the Union line east of Petersburg by striking the Federal stronghold of Fort Stedman, about six miles away, and weakened parts of his defenses west of the city to mass firepower there. This created an opening at Jones Farm, where the Union Second and Sixth Corps attacked the elaborate Confederate picket line along a four-mile front and captured it in spirited fighting. In some places the Federals reversed the Confederate trenches instead of building a new line, leaving surviving earthworks that appear to face in two directions at once. From this line of works, which extended for miles, the Sixth Corps attacked on the morning of April 2, shortening the distance to the main Confederate line and greatly contributing to Union success that day.

Virginia · United States