Artillery played a significant role in the Civil War, and particulary the trench warfare seen at Petersburg. Artillery would often be used as an auxiliary arm for the infantry soldiers involved in battle. Most of the fighting of the artillery crews would take place behind earthen walls during the siege of Petersburg. If you were a member of an artillery crew, what would your life have been like? What did you do in battle? Where did you live? Soldiers tell you in their own words.
Did You Know?
Yorktown played a role in not only the American Revolution but also during the Civil War. In 1862 it was the site of the first siege operations of the Civil War. In May 1862 Confederates abandoned Yorktown and Union troops occupied it for the remainder of the war.