It appears there is nothing new on the Eastern Front

[samgrant]

Then we must be at the siege of Petersburg/Richmond, a place fertile for discussion.

let's start with: what was it really like in the trenches?

[matthew mckeon]

Dear samgrant,

Like many people, I'm struck by how 20th century the pictures of the trenches look. In the argument "is the CW the last 19th century war, or the first 20th century war," the trench systems around Petersburg and Richmond definitely look 20th century.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by matthew mckeon

Dear samgrant,

Like many people, I'm struck by how 20th century the pictures of the trenches look. In the argument "is the CW the last 19th century war, or the first 20th century war," the trench systems around Petersburg and Richmond definitely look 20th century.

Matt, Where does one find good pictures of the trenches?

I was struck by the depiction of the trenches in the film 'Cold Mountain'. Do you think that was accurate?

[ole]

If the trenches at Petersburg were anything like the trenches at Vicksburg, those soldiers did a whole bunch of digging. I'd wonder if there was any technical advancement in the trenchant science (pun intended) in WWI.
Ole

[nbforrest]

Life in the trenches must have been miserable. That summer heat must have been unbearable in a dusty trench in an area devoid of trees. August in southern VA can be pretty nasty. Bugs and latrines everywhere. Just awful. Not to mention sharpshooters and the like.
Any idea if there was a standard schedule of rotation for units going between the trenches and reserve areas?

Respectfully

[ole]

There had to have been a digger's rotation. No man alive, then or now, could do that kind of work all day. I suspect 2 hours would have been the norm, although, with you, NB, I look forward to someone coming up with a real number.
Ole

[matthew mckeon]

Dear samgrant,
The photographs made of Fort "Hell"(Sedgewick) are quite good. Both Matthew Brady's "Photographic Sketchbook" and Alexander Gardner has some photos of the Union trenches. I can't remember the trenches in Cold Mtn. The "advances" in WWI, besides barbed wire obviously, was the construction of deep "dugouts" as shelters against heavy shelling, and the use of concrete and steel materials. Because of the improvements in ranges, amt., power and accuracy of shells and rifles, the trenches were more completely underground, no breastworks or walls, even the low thick ones of CW vintage.

Dear nbforrest,
When did siege operations in Petersburg/Richmond commence? I remember that Lee's complaint was the cold his men had to endure.

Dear Ole,
Rotation in WWI trenches was routine, but I don't know about the CW. I just finished "All for the Union" and they seem to be in "advanced" trench duty for a few days or weeks, then back in the relative safety of camp.

[richard]

http://www.nps.gov/pete/mahan/PNBhome.html


The above link will take you to some photos of the trinches at Petersburg

[nbforrest]

When did siege operations in Petersburg/Richmond commence?

I suppose once Grant dug in after the failure of the June 18 attack, and developed fully after the Jerusalem Plank Road fiasco.

Respectfully

[bschulte]

Originally Posted by nbforrest

Life in the trenches must have been miserable. That summer heat must have been unbearable in a dusty trench in an area devoid of trees. August in southern VA can be pretty nasty. Bugs and latrines everywhere. Just awful. Not to mention sharpshooters and the like.
Any idea if there was a standard schedule of rotation for units going between the trenches and reserve areas?

Respectfully

nbforrest,

There was definitely rotation and rear areas where regiments and brigades were sent to recover. For one example, I point you to the late Warren Wilkinson's book Mother, May You Never See The Sights I Have Seen: The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers in the Army of the Potomac, 1864-1865

Although I've not read many unit histories, I've heard from those in the know that it is one of the best ever written. I read it several months ago, and I seem to recall some mention of the rotation you were wondering about.