The Crater at Petersburg
Video: War Department
VIDEO | On the morning of July 30, 1864, Union troops exploded a mine underneath Elliott's Salient, an earthwork (jutting out to form an angle) defending Petersburg. The result is one of the most talked-about incidents of the entire Civil War. Douglas Ullman, Jr. visits the battlefield and speaks with guests about the involvement of the USCT 4th Division and the events that make the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg unforgettable.
Topic(s):
Related Battles
Battle Facts
Petersburg, VA | July 30, 1864
Result: Confederate Victory
Estimated Casualties
5,289
Union
3,798
3,798
Confed.
1,491
1,491