Art Bergeron
March 25, 1865
Thu Jul 26 08:22:43 2001


Unfortunately, the identity and location of Confederate artillery units along what we call the Boydton Plank Road Line (from Battery 45 to Hatcher's Run) is one of the great mysteries of the Petersburg Campaign. I've made a fairly exhaustive study but found very little solid information. The batteries belonged to the Third Corps Artillery, and they seem to have moved around from time to time. If you have specific questions, let me know.

The infantry units are easier. Just prior to the movements that led to the attack on Fort Stedman, the brigades from left to right (from Battery 45 to Hatcher's Run) were Lane's, McGowan's, MacRae's, McComb's, Cooke's, and Davis'. The two former belonged to Wilcox's Division, and the rest to Heth's.
Lane, McComb, and Cooke were pulled out to support Gordon's attack. Davis was shifted to the left, and Moody's took its old position. MacRae's appears to have stretched to its right to replace McComb's men.