Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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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

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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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Petersburg Plays Role in Twentieth Century Wars Petersburg also played an important role in our twentieth century wars. Her first troops in World War I were in the 80th Division, a group composed largely of Virginians and Pennsylvanians. Now the united North and South were fighting a common enemy on foreign soil. Camp Lee, outside of the city, became the mobilization sight for the Virginia National Guard. World War II brought a re-opening of Camp Lee which soon became Fort Lee, a perma- nent Army post. Men from all over the country were stationed here to prepare them for fighting abroad. Petersburg was honored to produce two broth- ers holding the rank of general. These two leaders. Brigadier General Lee Saunders Gerow and four star General Leonard Townsend Gerow, brought great fame to their native city. Eighty-nine Petersburg men gave the ultimate, their lives, to suppress the enemy. When Korea asked for help, our city once again responded by giving her men for the cause of freedom. Throughout the years, Petersburg’s participation in wars has not only been in the form of giving her soldiers but also in group efforts to build morale among the troops. Various churches and civic or- ganizations began entertaining the thousands of young men stationed at the nearby Army base. Other or- ganizations knitted clothing, made bandages, and raised money for those troops abroad. Individuals on the home front aided their country by contributing to scrap drives or serving as wardens and supervisors in blackouts. Together and individually Petersburgers did their part to win the wars. Facts and figures combine to show that the Cockade City has main- tained her reputation for active patriotism in the twentieth century which had been won in previous conflicts. 6