Petersburg Battlefield is sponsoring a weekend encampment of re-enactors portraying British Revolutionary War soldiers on July 11-12 at the historic City Point area of Hopewell. The free program will occur all day on Saturday and Sunday until noon. The event will feature musket and artillery firing demonstrations, displays relating to the Revolutionary War, and other activities.

About City Point during the Revolutionary War

On April 24, 1781, British Major General William Phillips landed his forces at City Point before marching on and seizing Petersburg the next day. General Phillips was hoping to capture American military stores, cut the American communication lines with American forces to the south, and to link up with General Cornwallis’ troops coming north to Petersburg. The American forces slowed the British advance towards Richmond by a day which enabled defenders of the state capital to dig in and prevent the Redcoats from taking the city. The British decided their expedition was a success and sailed down the James River to Portsmouth.

If you go

The General Grant’s Headquarters Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield is located at 1001 Pecan Avenue in Hopewell and is open seven days a week, every day of the year except for major holidays. Visitors can view a 15-minute video and participate in a tour of the 18^th century home of the Eppes Family. The grounds are open until dark and include numerous wayside exhibits on the lawn surrounding the home and on the James River waterfront. There is no entrance fee.

Please call Ranger Grant Gates for more information (804) 732-3531 ext. 202.