White Oak Road
Gravelly Run
31 March 1865

General Description: The Property at White Oak Road is comprised of 60 acres. Located in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, it is a short distance from the Pamplin Park Civil War Site, CWPT's property at the Hatcher's Run battlefield, and the Five Forks unit of the Petersburg National Battlefield. Dinwiddie County Parks and Recreation Department assisted CWPT with the installation of the parking area and walking trail.

Civil War History: This site proved to be the second engagement fought by Major General Gouvernor Warren's V Corps in General Ullysses Grant's Spring offensive. As Grant began his westward swing toward the South Side Railroad, he sent out a force of about 50,000 men which included Major General Philip Sheridan's cavalry and two infantry corps: the Fifth under Warren and Major General Andrew Humphreys's Second Corps. Warren, having clashed with Confederate forces under Lietenant General Richard Anderson along Quaker Road on March 29, was able to gain a foothold on nearby Boydton Plank Road. Control of this road was of strategic value, as it provided the main route for supplies from North Carolina to General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. On March 30, Warren pushed his men as close to the White Oak Road defense line as possible and had them build slight breastworks. The CWPT's property is the area where a portion of Anderson's Corps was positioned during the battle. Johnson's force was composed of Wise's and Hunton's Virginia brigades, a brigade of Alabamians, and McGowan's South Carolinians.

On March 31, General Robert E. Lee was visiting these lines when informed that Federal forces were forming in his front to gain control of White Oak Road. Lee sent most of Johnson's Division forward in the early morning to attack Warren's troops before the Union troops could launch their attack. Fighting throughout the morning, the Confederate brigades enveloped and put to flight two Federal divisions in succession. As the fight progressed, the Southerners met stiffening resistance, and by 3:00pm came to a halt and began to convert captured Union breastworks for their own use.

At this time, Warren ordered a counterattack, which successfully drove the Confederates back to their entrenchments along the White Oak Road. Union forces also secured a lodgment on the road, effectively blocking Anderson from reinforcing the Confederates holding the vital road junction at Five Forks, a few miles to thewest. Warren deemed Johnson's defenses too strong to assault, ending the fighting for that day. Federal losses were reported as 177 killed, 1,134 wounded, and 544 missing, while the Confederate commander put his losses "at about 800 killed, wounded and missing."

The Property: Mostly wooded, a trail leads behind the "return" in General Robert E. Lee's entrenched line, built in December 1864 and January 1865. This anchored the right flank of the Confederates' defenses, which stretched 35 miles in front of Richmond and Petersburg. On the north side of the road are trenches and a well-preserved one-gun battery facing in the direction of the battlefield. On the south side, the infantry trench continues where another one-gun battery was located. The CWPT property is well marked on both sides of White Oak Road.

Instructions: Park in the parking area at the corner of White Oak and Claiborne Roads. Be careful crossing the roads and respect our neighbors' property. Stay off the earthworks. This site includes both walking trails and interpretive signs.

Directions: To visit the site, from Petersburg, Virginia, take I-85 South off of I-95. After about 7 miles, exit at the first sign for Route 1 South. Follow Route 1 South for about 8 miles. After crossing Hatcher's Run, turn right onto White Oak Road (Route 613). Go approximately 2.75 miles, then turn right onto Claiborne Road (Route 631). Immediately turn right into the parking area; this corner is marked by a Virginia State Historical Marker, thanks to the generosity of the Dinwiddie County Confederate Memorial Association. Be careful crossing the roads and respect our neighbors' property. Please stay off the earthworks. An interpretive trail with wayside exhibits and markers was completed in March 1998.

For a map of the area, click here and enter the following information: [20500-22299] White Oak Road / Petersburg, VA 23803.

For a print friendly brochure, please click here.
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