Recent Visit to Pamplin Park

[Jerry43]

On Saturday afternoon I went to the park to walk the Breakthrough trail. For those that haven't been to the park near Petersburg VA, it has some of the best preserved earthworks anywhere. Various lengths trails are mostly wide and pea gravel covered so ticks, poison ivy and snakes are not a concern. It also has various museums and historic buildings to tell the story of the Civil War Soldier. Hard times have caused financial difficulties with staff layoffs and reduced hours in recent years. A permanent looking sign says days open are Friday thru Sunday. I was sad to see only one car in the parking lot when I arrived and left after a 2-mile walk. The place spared no expense when opened and still looks in good shape for as long as it has been open. A good selection of books in the gift shop but not as extensive as it was in better days.

I did note some lack of field maintenance that detracts from the appearance. As you can see in the photos below that mowing has not occurred for at least 2 years in the large opening where the breakthrough was on April 2, 1865. First photo is from 8 years ago and the second is one I took on Saturday from same spot. Hard to imagine the entire area was a "barren desert" as one of their markers says. I hope casual visitors realize that the earthworks currently preserved with growing trees was open land back then. With only 2,800 Confederate defenders the breakthrough occurred here when 14,000 Federal troops attacked. Last photo is same spot with the cannon at top center of photo.

 

[Jerry43]

A little hard to see the depth but various rifle pits are still well preserved behind the tree.

 

[Trooper "D"]

A little hard to see the depth but various rifle pits are still well preserved behind the tree.

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Looks like they need a weed eater volunteer or trade for merch. Financial problems hit everybody with Covid Hoax.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

Thank you for the excellent post. I have wanted to visit since it opened and have never made it. I have been following the financial problems and was hoping they did not close. I had heard that you could only visit with a large tour group and appointment. I am so glad to hear that you still can visit Fridays thru Sundays. That is good to know. I will make plans for a visit!

I had ancestors that fought on both sides, however, only my great grandfather in the 87th PA Infantry of the First Brigade, Third Division of the Sixth Corps would have been there. Thank you for letting us know what is going on there and also for the great pictures!

 

[Jamieva]

I last was there when my daughters school took a field trip there about 10 years ago. I have still not walked the breakthrough trail thars on my agenda this year

 

[dlavin]

Happy to see it's open. I was there in last April and it was closed only open to special events. Twist my arm, I guess I'll have to find time to go back

 

[jcrook]

You can hear the rounds going by.

 

[Bryce]

On Saturday afternoon I went to the park to walk the Breakthrough trail. For those that haven't been to the park near Petersburg VA, it has some of the best preserved earthworks anywhere. Various lengths trails are mostly wide and pea gravel covered so ticks, poison ivy and snakes are not a concern. It also has various museums and historic buildings to tell the story of the Civil War Soldier. Hard times have caused financial difficulties with staff layoffs and reduced hours in recent years. A permanent looking sign says days open are Friday thru Sunday. I was sad to see only one car in the parking lot when I arrived and left after a 2-mile walk. The place spared no expense when opened and still looks in good shape for as long as it has been open. A good selection of books in the gift shop but not as extensive as it was in better days.

I did note some lack of field maintenance that detracts from the appearance. As you can see in the photos below that mowing has not occurred for at least 2 years in the large opening where the breakthrough was on April 2, 1865. First photo is from 8 years ago and the second is one I took on Saturday from same spot. Hard to imagine the entire area was a "barren desert" as one of their markers says. I hope casual visitors realize that the earthworks currently preserved with growing trees was open land back then. With only 2,800 Confederate defenders the breakthrough occurred here when 14,000 Federal troops attacked. Last photo is same spot with the cannon at top center of photo.

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The problem is for eight or 10 years. The Petersburg Park was run by a Superintendent who had no business running a Park. His qualifications were that he was in charge of the Park police at Valley Forge national Battlefield site. There is a new superintendent and a new head of the battlefield guides, but neither of them know anything about the siege.

 

[Bryce]

Thank you for the excellent post. I have wanted to visit since it opened and have never made it. I have been following the financial problems and was hoping they did not close. I had heard that you could only visit with a large tour group and appointment. I am so glad to hear that you still can visit Fridays thru Sundays. That is good to know. I will make plans for a visit!

I had ancestors that fought on both sides, however, only my great grandfather in the 87th PA Infantry of the First Brigade, Third Division of the Sixth Corps would have been there. Thank you for letting us know what is going on there and also for the great pictures!

If you're interested in learning about this siege of Petersburg, it's my area of expertise. Just let me know.

I won the Douglas cell phone Freeman award in 2014 for volume two of the Petersburg campaign. I co-authored it with Edwin c. Bearss

 

[MWood1841]

There is a new superintendent and a new head of the battlefield guides, but neither of them know anything about the siege.

yikes. SMH. Sounds about right for how govt operates. Glad to be retired. I've never understood the concept with expecting any kind of success when placing unqualified folks to lead any team or program.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

If you're interested in learning about this siege of Petersburg, it's my area of expertise. Just let me know.

I won the Douglas cell phone Freeman award in 2014 for volume two of the Petersburg campaign. I co-authored it with Edwin c. Bearss

@Bryce

Thank you very much! I am quite interested in the siege and particularly my great grandfather's participation in it. He would have been there twice being in the 87th PA Infantry of the First Brigade, Third Division. Sixth Corps. They were there until dispatched to fight at Monocacy and Sheridan's 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Then they would have returned to the trenches at Petersburg in December of 1864 and would have participated in the Weldon Railroad battles and the April Breakout?

I will certainly get your books and if I do ever head for a tour of that area I will consult you before my trip.

Thank you again!

Lew

 

[Jerry43]

I have still not walked the breakthrough trail thars on my agenda

There also is a Headwaters trail that connects to the PNBP portion of the battlefield from the Breakthrough trail. I didn't have time for that one. Will go back in the winter when the leaves are all off and easier to see the terrain.

 

[Jerry43]

I won the Douglas cell phone Freeman award in 2014 for volume two of the Petersburg campaign. I co-authored it with Edwin c. Bearss

I see both volumes are set for release in paperback in January 2026. What goes in the decision by publishers to release a paperback so far in the future once it's announced to do so? I assume it's related to having a stream of books released year around for business purposes.

 

[AA484]

yikes. SMH. Sounds about right for how govt operates. Glad to be retired. I've never understood the concept with expecting any kind of success when placing unqualified folks to lead any team or program.

It's a privately owned park

 

[neyankee61]

I applied for the position of head of the education dept. at the park about 25 years ago. I received a phone call from Wilson Greene for an interview. It was the best interview of my life as it would have been a dream job. Wilson told me I could have the job but the salary he could offer me wasn't a fair one. I would have to take a 50% pay cut in my current salary. With a wife and 3 children at the time, it just wasn't doable.

 

[CplHall140thPA]

A little hard to see the depth but various rifle pits are still well preserved behind the tree.

On Saturday afternoon I went to the park to walk the Breakthrough trail. For those that haven't been to the park near Petersburg VA, it has some of the best preserved earthworks anywhere. Various lengths trails are mostly wide and pea gravel covered so ticks, poison ivy and snakes are not a concern. It also has various museums and historic buildings to tell the story of the Civil War Soldier. Hard times have caused financial difficulties with staff layoffs and reduced hours in recent years. A permanent looking sign says days open are Friday thru Sunday. I was sad to see only one car in the parking lot when I arrived and left after a 2-mile walk. The place spared no expense when opened and still looks in good shape for as long as it has been open. A good selection of books in the gift shop but not as extensive as it was in better days.

I did note some lack of field maintenance that detracts from the appearance. As you can see in the photos below that mowing has not occurred for at least 2 years in the large opening where the breakthrough was on April 2, 1865. First photo is from 8 years ago and the second is one I took on Saturday from same spot. Hard to imagine the entire area was a "barren desert" as one of their markers says. I hope casual visitors realize that the earthworks currently preserved with growing trees was open land back then. With only 2,800 Confederate defenders the breakthrough occurred here when 14,000 Federal troops attacked. Last photo is same spot with the cannon at top center of photo.

I went there a couple years back. Very nice spot with very good representations of the earthworks there. Missed the annual reenactment though

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

On Saturday afternoon I went to the park to walk the Breakthrough trail. For those that haven't been to the park near Petersburg VA, it has some of the best preserved earthworks anywhere. Various lengths trails are mostly wide and pea gravel covered so ticks, poison ivy and snakes are not a concern. It also has various museums and historic buildings to tell the story of the Civil War Soldier. Hard times have caused financial difficulties with staff layoffs and reduced hours in recent years. A permanent looking sign says days open are Friday thru Sunday. I was sad to see only one car in the parking lot when I arrived and left after a 2-mile walk. The place spared no expense when opened and still looks in good shape for as long as it has been open. A good selection of books in the gift shop but not as extensive as it was in better days.

I did note some lack of field maintenance that detracts from the appearance. As you can see in the photos below that mowing has not occurred for at least 2 years in the large opening where the breakthrough was on April 2, 1865. First photo is from 8 years ago and the second is one I took on Saturday from same spot. Hard to imagine the entire area was a "barren desert" as one of their markers says. I hope casual visitors realize that the earthworks currently preserved with growing trees was open land back then. With only 2,800 Confederate defenders the breakthrough occurred here when 14,000 Federal troops attacked. Last photo is same spot with the cannon at top center of photo.

It is a great park and thanks for supporting it! I wrote a history of the Branch-Lane brigade, which was posted in those very works on the morning of April 2, 1865. I try and visit at least once a year (last year twice!).

 

[MWood1841]

It's a privately owned park

thanks for the clarification. I was under impression they were speaking on a managed NPS property area

 

[Jamieva]

thanks for the clarification. I was under impression they were speaking on a managed NPS property area

The breakthrough trail combines samplin propery, abt property and i think nps as well.

 

[Jerry43]

Here's a couple of views of the Headlands Trail sign at the junction with the Breakthrough trail. From a point on the Headwaters trail, you can enter the ABT, NPS land. However, coming in from the other side, it will say you must pay at Pamplin to use Pamplin trails.

I would do a hike on the Pamplin side first and then do one from ABT, NPS property by parking at Flank Rd/Church Rd at Fort Welch and Fort Fisher area. Too far from car if you wanted to make one long round-trip to hit both trails at once.

Members and Dinwiddie County Residents can access Pamplin Trails Monday through Thursday by checking in at the administrative office.