Lee's Last Grand Assault at Fort Stedman: Petersburg Video Tour!

A. Wilson Greene and Garry Adelman explore the fight and the substantial consequences of the Battle of Fort Stedman on March 25, 1865. Robert E. Lee would surrender his army at Appomattox just 15 days later.
This video is part of our Petersburg and North Carolina Battlefield Tour series. Be sure to check out all of the other videos here: • Petersburg and North C...

[@a.hollins8691]

It's hard to imagine heavily forested central VA as mostly clear cut back in those days.

[@shawnbane585]

If this does not for shadow Europe from 1914-18 I don't know what does

[@blukeblue1235]

I think Will gives the best descriptions of anyone. I could listen to him all day.

[@patrickdunham1878]

Yeah I agree.

[@zcoosa1648]

Thankful for all you guys, good ole northern boys that I could listen to all day. Love this country and her history.

[@paulmorales3815]

I had read that part about the ax men but hearing that about the 100 deserters is new. That one about the Confederate soldier yelling "we're coming!" I had read that general Gordon sent out a soldier, a Union yelled out, " who goes there "?, the Confederate soldier said " it's only me yank, I'm just picking some berries for my breakfast". The Union soldier said, " okay, reb, go head, I want shoot." Gordon told the soldier (the berry picker) to fire the signal gun to start the attack, the rebel soldier felt bad about lying to the Yankee soldier, so the rebel yelled out, " watch out yank!, we're coming to attack!", then the rebel soldier fires the signal gun.

[@tedbrogan1]

I can't get enough of this stuff. I just find it so interesting

[@briangoldy8784]

My Great, Great, Great, GrandFather was in The Pennsylvania Corps. at Petersburg. I Find this tour an Lecture Fascinating . Thanks. Mr. Greene & Mr. Adelman..... Piece of family history......brought me here..

[@TM-vq1bf]

Love listening to people who can communicate effectively . This guys really good

[@fieryweasel]

This really helped to contextualize the battle for me - frequently you just hear it described as a last-ditch effort by Lee. Seeing how it led to the last act of the Army of Northern Virginia was very enlightening.

[@bruceschmidt3404]

Thank you Wilson and Garry. Another great presentation! Thanks for all that you do to preserve the history of this great nation!

[@locksmith77bk]

A non great nation that was built on captivity and take over of some one else's property and family

[@robertweber567]

All of these Petersburg video's have been excellent. I really have enjoyed the heck out of them. Well done gents!

[@jaydubbyuh2292]

Thx Mr. Green, for another fine presentation. It is so difficult to function well when you can see the end, but for duty's sake, & the compulsion of hope, (so long as there is a fair chance of success, or an even more dire chance, just to survive). Such was what Lee, most of his lieutenants, and many of his soldiers knew. The mail from back home under Federal occupation, and the cruel depredations wrought upon the civilians, were very demoralising, especially if no no perceptible progress could be made upon the battlefield, be it tactical or strategic, to justify carrying on the struggle and endure the suffering. Lee understood this, and that understanding is part of what impelled him at Gettysburg - for he knew that his numbers & resources were at it's likely zenith, and he set up the failed pincher movement, known as Pickett's charge. ( It truly is astounding, that Custer's smaller force stopped Stuart's rear attack so easily, with the same sort of amazement that other movements by both armies failed, like the Federal attack at the Crater), bc the Federal army had to be dealt a crippling blow by the capture or surrender of it's larger portion. Otherwise, as Lee said, it will come down to a seige, and then, be but a matter of time. One of Lee's strongest policy / strategic suggestions to Davis, was to move the Confederate capital to Danville, or Lynchburg - to operate in the Valley of Va. & NC, which for many reasons, was much more easily defended, and stretched the Union supply lines thin enough for small Confederate forces to cause significant interruptions, and give him the last best chance of crippling the main Federal army. But, there was a political & moral side that could not be ignored: by that time in the struggle, Richmond & Lee's Army had become the standard of the Confederate struggle, and if they could not be maintained, then it would be plain to even the most casual observer, that organized resistance was futile. It is the duty of historians, not to pontificate, editorialize, and indulge in the temptation of hindsight; but, to convey & portray what people actually faced, and were able to comprehend & understand, in the past. It helps all of us to be wiser in our own present day. Thank you & GOD bless you Mr. Green. Jon.West,Sr.

[@stonesinmyblood27]

So it’s the oldest situation for an army that was penned in. Can’t escape, can’t stay here, so we have to attack. Gordon was 100% correct

[@ford23turboguy]

My 4x great grandfather was a 3rd Sergeant in the 200th Pennsylvania in 9th corps that was in reserve. He was shot during the counter attack and died at the army hospital at City point the evening of March 25th. It’s awesome to know he was a part of the nail in the coffin for old Bobby Lee

[@lloydknepp4186]

51st Pennsylvania infantry Great great Grandfather was there. Peace to all veterans and descendants

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

Really enjoying this informative series, particularly the insights.

[@tenther5019]

Love the explanation of the depth and breadth of strategic context.

[@BillP-kg1yp]

We are running in the 25th mile of the very long marathon that was the Siege at Petersburg.

[@markwheeler202]

Here from The History Underground.

[@patrickdunham1878]

Will and Gary are a pretty excellent duo, wonderful job with the Petersburg campaign!

[@paca_bill4863]

Back in a "former life" a few decades ago, I was working on construction of the Rte. 288 extension between Rte. 1 and I-95, where it crosses over Proctor's Creek between Richmond and Petersburg. This was the site of the Battle of Proctor's Creek, part of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign in 1864. It was a bit chilling to sit there on along the creek, looking at the high ground on both sides, and read the accounts of the fighting in the book, Back Door to Richmond, by William Robertson. There was an old plantation house east of I-95 that was used as a field hospital during the battle - unfortunately, it was demolished during construction, as the borrow pit for the highway fills.

[@kevinpiacente3456]

Why didn't the state protect it??

[@paca_bill4863]

@@kevinpiacente3456 Good question. The corridor for Rte. 288 had been reserved for the southern bypass around Richmond for decades prior to construction, and with the urban development going on throughout Chesterfield County, the state either had to build it or give it over to the developers. They did do archeological studies and digs along the corridor prior to construction, but even then, there were a lot of historical artifacts missed. On one of the adjacent sections under construction, during the earthmoving operations, the contractor uncovered a field gravesite for a soldier. Unfortunately, before the state historians and archeologists could get to the site, it had been vandalized. Shameful! But as these videos point out, there are a lot of entrenchments, redoubts and other structures "littered" throughout this whole area, much of which has been built over. In southeast Virginia, you can't trip or sneeze without coming on some plot of land that wasn't disturbed by the War between the States, the Revolutionary War, the colonial period, or all the history prior to and after those periods. For anyone who loves American history, the whole area is amazing!

[@aoac1]

excellent!

[@2ezee2011]

love these

[@bmdecker93]

Remarkable. Thank you for posting this collection of videos. This is Civil War history at it's absolute best, IMHO.

[@jerseyforhawks]

Your scholarship is impressive.

[@virginiastanley8178]

My G Grandfather Lambert was wounded at Ft.Steadman. and died 4 days later. 31st Georgia. He was one of the sharpshooters sent forward at the start. He was shot trying to get bac to the CSA lines. He is buried in the Blandford Cemetary in Richmond. Did Lee really think this would alter the outcome of the war? His arrogance was incredible.

[@neighbortim]

I can’t say enough good things about this series, easily the best since Ken Burns yet so much shorter and hitting important points. I keep thinking back to what I learned about the Civil War in school, very sad in comparison.

[@DrewSohl]

Lee lost a large number of his officer corps,his junior officers at Gettysburg.He had a hard time replacing his,majors, colonels,and generals who were killed,wounded,or taken prisoner.The south couldn't replace the men they lost,simple math.R.I.P.

[@wmschooley1234]

Fort Stedman, a four hour surprise confederate attack that ultimately had no impact on Union lines but weakened Lee’s own right flank. Lee should have chosen Gordon’s first option, offer peace terms to Unconditional Surrender Grant like he did a month later. Respectfully WS

[@markmullin4246]

So very sad!

[@Turnagater]

If Johnston had a bit more oomph he could have delayed Sherman and maybe Lee could have effected a better campaign. Lots of what ifs though

[@wyatthen55]

Well 25000 can't do much more than anoy 110000 like what Johnston wrote lee

[@Turnagater]

@@wyatthen55 true. Sherman had his wings too far apart. Could he have won? No. Delay? Yes. At this point in the war though it is a moot point. Just pondering and playing what if games

[@wyatthen55]

@@Turnagater if the battle of franklin or even Johnston being removes from command Johnston could have held atlanta for a lot longer hood murdered his army at franklin and nashville so if Johnston would have had 35-45000 men at bentonville he could have done a lot better

[@craiggleason8386]

Did lee consider abandoning Richmond before this attack?

[@craiggleason8386]

You answered my question, I should have waited

[@mikehrenak1390]

Packers rule the bears fact

[@nikitaklebnikov3574]

Gary, At this time in the war he was outnumberd at least 10 to 1

[@kevinpiacente3456]

Lee will always be out greatest general

[@TM-vq1bf]

Not mine . I’m not a confederate supporter . He was a traitor . Benedict Arnold. Plus Grant was better

[@frankmcwilliams8328]

Not Lee's failure , gorden's. A last gasp, none to blame.

[@wmschooley1234]

Mr. McWilliams:I respectfully disagree. How is this anything but Lee's failure? Lee was the commander who authorized this operation. Lee was the commander who selected the subordinate officers to execute the operation. Lee was the commander how pulled other units from his defensive line in support of this operation. Lee was the commander who had other options and chose to try a sneak attack which was nothing more than an outright gamble in the face of a numerically superior opponent. Respectfully, WS

[@frankmcwilliams8328]

@@wmschooley1234 last option. Failure was always high.

[@anthonyfiorito6260]

These videos are good but they could have been great if they just let Will Greene, the foremost expert on the Petersburg campaign, do the talking. Gary Adelman is a distraction. It's like going to a major league baseball game and then having to watch little leaguers periodically come out and play.