Confederate Shell/Grenade Turns Up at Richmond 150 Years Later-- Part 2

In late 1864, Grant and Lee were busily entrenching around Pertersburg, Virginia and Grant determined to make Lee stretch his already hard-pressed lines even further and sent Union troops north of the James River to attack the defenses of Richmond itself.

Eventually the lines of the opposing forces extended 37 miles.

On September 29, 1864 the Union assault occurred in Henrico County and resulted in the capture of Confederate Fort Harrison, but failed to capture Fort Gilmer.  The victories at Fort Harrison and New Market Heights gave Grant a position just a few miles south of Richmond.

On Monday, September 29th, National Park Service rangers and Henrico County Recreation and Parks personnel will conduct tours of the New Market Heights, Fort Harrison and Fort Gilmer battlefields at the exact time events unfolded there 150 years previously.

Then, the next day, September 30th, tours of the next day's unsuccessful Confederate attack to retake Fort Harrison will be given.

--Old Secesh