Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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1 iv jyS 1 Bravery, Patriotism In addressing the Petersburg Volunteers, General William Henry Harrison referred to our city as “the seed-bed of patriotism, the nursery of heroes.” He truly spoke not only of the Petersburg of his time but also of the actions of her sons during the longest military campaign ever waged against a city in the United States. On June 9, 1864 the first Union attack on Peters- burg was made and the long seige began. Ironically, the day dawned bright and beautiful, little foretelling the dark shadows that would fall over the homes of Petersburg. Although it was a relatively small battle, the result was of utmost importance, for if the Union had been able to take and hold the city, Richmond’s railroad connection with the South would have been cut. Frantically trying to preserve the ideals in which they so devoutly believed, the Second Class Militia, those either too old or too young to fight, heroically joined the struggle for a cause which had ceased to 4

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missed with General Orders which read in part: “They have, for twelve months, borne the hardships and privations of military life in the midst of an inhospitable wilderness, with a cheerfulness and alac- rity which has never been surpassed. Their conduct in the field has been excelled by no other corps . . While reviewing the Volunteers on their return. President James Madison referred to Petersburg as the “Cockade City of the Union” because of their fashionable cockade hats. This soubriquet which these volunteers won for Petersburg has been cherished to this day. The Cockade Hat has become a symbol of bravery and determination to keep our country truly “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” One of the city’s most noted memorials is a shaft over the grave of Captain McRae in Blandford Ceme- tery honoring those who fought so well in the War of 1812 . These soldiers are remembered because they did not falter in the face of danger. Their goal was to create a better world in which to live and they were willing to make necessary sacrifices to attain it. These determined fighters set out “strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” But strong in will, To strive. To seek. To find. And not to yield Alfred, Lord Tennyson 3

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Exhibited 1861 - 65 be discriminating about a man’s age. Also among these defenders were persons from the hospitals and jails, dubbed “the patients and the penitents.” Armed with inferior muskets and rifles, this gal- lant band, under the leadership of Major Fletcher H. Archer, bravely held off two attacks and retreated only when the third made further resistance impos- sible unless all were to be captured or killed. So hopelessly outnumbered, Petersburg’s garrisons were defeated. In the still, warm June evening ambulances delivered the dead to the doors of their homes. Even the Union General Benjamin F. Butler, known by the nickname “Beast” because of his ruthless cruelty, gave testimony that Petersburg was defended by “old men and boys, the grave and the cradle being robbed in about equal proportions.” The Battle of the Crater and further attacks brought an eventual end of Petersburg’s protection and ultimately, the Confederacy. Though defeated, these men had fought bravely for those ideals in which they believed. St. PAiii ' f I.l? STAFF wnm.I J- “E AND THE siege of FETERSBURG mis chumhI! I VlMiWA MNSEBVATieK ft COMWISSIOH t(st cm M- PeT£«S»8RS ' 8 5