In the summer of 1862, the waterfront on the Nansemond River was crowded with soldiers and artillery as Union Gen. John J. Peck's men built a series of earthwork forts, batteries, and trenches around the entire town, making this a key crossing point. Union infantrymen in trenches on the high ground nearby stood ready for a Confederate attack, while the Union gunboats USS Smith Briggs and USS West End patrolled the river to prevent an enemy crossing. Confederate Gen. James Longstreet's men partially surrounded the town from April 11 to May 3, 1863, and during that time the two sides exchanged rifle and artillery fire across the river, but the Confederates made no attempt to cross. On the morning of May 3, four regiments of Union infantry crossed the bridge here and advanced against Confederate picket lines on the north side, driving them back in a probe meant to test whether the Confederate lines were being thinned before the siege was lifted. The pickets fell back to their main lines, which held firm and gave no sign of retreat, and the fighting became known as the Battle of Providence Church Road. Although the Confederate position appeared strong, all Confederate forces around Suffolk withdrew that night in darkness, only hours after the day's heavy fighting ended.

Photo: Mike McKeown

Suffolk, Virginia · USA