Heroic last stand at Fort Gregg near Petersburg on April 2, 1865, is significant, but little known. By John J. Fox III, The Confederate Alamo

Date published: 4/2/2005

THE DATE APRIL 2, 1865, is an important, and yet relatively unknown, day in U.S. history. On that day 140 years ago, Federal soldiers pierced the thin lines of Robert E. Lee's beleaguered Army of Northern Virginia at Petersburg.

Lee's men would have faced certain annihilation without the remarkable bravery of a small band of Confederate veterans who made a last stand.

Many will recall that Petersburg did fall and, with it, the Confederate capital of Richmond. But Lee's army escaped because of the steadfast fight by a handful of Southerners in the face of overwhelming odds at Fort Gregg. Most Americans have never heard of Fort Gregg, and yet they should because the soldiers from both armies exhibited abundant heroism on that fateful day.

In the darkness of April 1, 1865, soldiers from Brig. Gen. James Lane's North Carolina brigade and Brig. Gen. Edward Thomas' Georgia brigade stood 10 paces apart to cover Lee's depleted line southwest of Petersburg. This swampy wooded area comprised Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's Third Corps sector. At around 10 p.m., the ground shook as Union artillery unleashed a tremendous fusillade designed to soften up the Confederate defenses. Confederate cannons roared to life in response. Ambrose Powell Hill, famous Culpeper County native and a 23-year army veteran, had less than nine hours to live.

Under the cover of shrieking shells and shot, thousands of blue-clad infantrymen moved forward to their own picket lines. These soldiers dropped to the wet, cold ground and awaited the inevitable orders to attack the Confederate position only a short distance away. Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant believed a massive infantry assault along the entire Petersburg line would quickly locate Lee's weak points. Many of Grant's men knew this attack represented their best hope to end the war in the eastern theater. These soldiers also realized what an assault against the heavily fortified Rebel works really meant--many of them would not live to see their next meal.

When the artillery barrage stopped, nervous Confederate pickets fired toward the ominous sounds coming from the Union line. Federal pickets returned the fire, but at some point an eerie stillness fell over the lines. James Lane's North Carolinians unknowingly stood directly at the apex of Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright's Sixth Corps attack.

Date published: 4/2/2005