On April 3rd 1865, towards the end of the American Civil War, a Confederate soldier defending a fort in Petersburg's trenches was killed in action, and his mangled corpse lay on the rugged terrain of the battlefield.

    On April 3rd 1865, towards the end of the American Civil War, a Confederate soldier defending a fort in Petersburg's trenches was killed in action. The bodies of the Confederate soldiers lay on the rugged terrain of the battlefield. This photograph, taken by the famous photographer Thomas C. Roche, symbolizes a tragic moment during the American Civil War.

    Following the defeat of the Confederate Army at Five Forks on April 1st 1865, the Union Army launched a general offensive on the Petersburg front on April 2nd. In the darkness before dawn, the Union Army's 6th Corps broke through the Confederate Army's front line, and the Union infantry opened a breach. Confederate Lieutenant General Hill was killed in action while trying to contact his men. The Confederate infantry retreated to Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth. The Confederates delayed the advance of General Gibbon at Fort Gregg and prevented the Union army from entering Petersburg that night. Union General Wright broke through and the pursuing troops moved north, cutting the Southside Railroad near Petersburg. The Union army was able to cross the Appomattox River.

     On April 3rd 1865, they crossed the Appomattox River at will, threatening the means of communication of Confederate General Lee, who was on the north side of the river. After sunset, Confederate General Lee informed Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, that he could no longer hold out. He announced that the Confederate Army would be withdrawing from Petersburg and Richmond. Union General Grant had finally achieved one of the main military objectives of the war: the occupation of Petersburg. This was directly linked to the loss of the Confederate capital, Richmond, which finally fell on April 3rd.