Tag: Fort Sedgwick VA

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Bob Williams on “Plowshares & Bayonets” A Scholarly Blog of the 26th North Carolina Regiment:
Few points on the opposing siege lines around Petersburg, Virginia were considered more dangerous than Union Fort Sedgwick, appropriately nicknamed “Fort Hell.” This prominent earthen fortification was strategically located astride the vital Jerusalem Plank road, just a few hundred yards southeast of Confederate Battery No. 29, variously called Fort Mahone or “Fort Damnation.”

Construction on the vital entrenchment was begun in mid-July 1864, preparatory to the explosion of General Ambrose Burnside’s famous mine. Even as early as July 21st, Union Colonel Charles Wainwright noted: “The new work at the plank road gets on slowly. I was right in my surmise that the rebels would not like it; they make it so hot for the workmen that it has already been christened Fort hell by the men.” It was completed in time to furnish supporting artillery fire during the abortive “Crater” affair. Throughout the remaining siege, Sedgwick’s formidable walls seemed to act as a magnet in drawing extremely accurate artillery fire from Southern guns. In addition, opposing picket lines between the two strong points were separated by less than 100 yards, and the firing was generally constant.

Thanks to Northern cameramen Timothy O’Sullivan and others, Fort Sedgwick was probably the most photographed of all Union works at Petersburg.