Fort Stedman: "Then and Now"

Photographs taken at Petersburg National Battlefield Park, by Krista Karasinski, NPS Ranger, Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park. Photograph commentary provided by Christopher L. Kolakowski, Historian and NPS Ranger, Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park

1. Fort Stedman from the northeast, near today's parking area. This photograph shows the northern end of the fort, formerly Battery 10. the Roundheads would have advanced from the left and pushed about a quarter of the way across this photo from left to right; the 200th and 209th Pa. advanced from where the picture is taken.
2. Fort Stedman from the eastern side of the works, looking south. This photo clearly shows the southern end of the fort. The Roundheads attacked the trenches in this photo. My guess is that this is the area where the two Medals of Honor were won.
3. The northwest bastion of Fort Stedman. This is a closeup of the cannon shown in photo #1. The cannon point west, toward the Confederate line. The 200th and 209th Pa. were engaged here.
4. A view of the same cannon from behind them looking west. Note: In all the photos, there are more and thicker trees than in 1865. The immediate area around the fort was much more open then.

Library of Congress Painting of Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, Petersburg National Battlefield Park

100th Pennsylvania Approached from Fort Haskell through trenches visible in left portion of painting. Spires of the Confederate City of Petersburg are visible in skyline (west) of Fort Stedman (center)

Photos of Fort Stedman taken shortly after the War

Artists sketch of the pre-dawn attack by Gordon's Confederates showing woodsmen chopping through the Union Army breastworks to create a path to Fort Stedman's works

Congressional Medal of Honor Roundheads Joseph P. Chambers and Charles Oliver, who received their medals by their heroic actions at Fort Stedman.

"Valley of the Shadow" webpage account of the Battle of Fort Stedman from the perspective of the 207th Pennsylvania Regt. by 9th Corps MajorGeneral John G. Parke, at Fort Stedman from "Official Records of the War of the Rebellion" The 207th Pa at Fort Stedman

Real Audio Short Discussion by Professor John Y. Simon, Southern Illinois University on Fort Stedman, Recorded 1998 at the Smithsonian Institution

(Courtesy of Civil War Studies at the Smithsonian Associates Website--Length: 0:3:32)

View of Fort Haskell looking North toward Fort Stedman-1999 photograph; courtesy of usa-civil-war.com website

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Fort Stedman: "Then and Now"

Photographs taken at Petersburg National Battlefield Park, by Krista Karasinski, NPS Ranger, Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park. Photograph commentary provided by Christopher L. Kolakowski, Historian and NPS Ranger, Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park

2. Fort Stedman from the eastern side of the works, looking south. This photo clearly shows the southern end of the fort. The Roundheads attacked the trenches in this photo. My guess is that this is the area where the two Medals of Honor were won.

3. The northwest bastion of Fort Stedman. This is a closeup of the cannon shown in photo #1. The cannon point west, toward the Confederate line. The 200th and 209th Pa. were engaged here.

4. A view of the same cannon from behind them looking west. Note: In all the photos, there are more and thicker trees than in 1865. The immediate area around the fort was much more open then.

"Valley of the Shadow" webpage account of the Battle of Fort Stedman from the perspective of the 207th Pennsylvania Regt. by 9th Corps MajorGeneral John G. Parke, at Fort Stedman from "Official Records of the War of the Rebellion" The 207th Pa at Fort Stedman

Real Audio Short Discussion by Professor John Y. Simon, Southern Illinois University on Fort Stedman, Recorded 1998 at the Smithsonian Institution