Major Civil War Campaigns · US History

What was the primary objective of the Siege of Petersburg (1864-1865)?

  1. To capture the primary Confederate gunpowder factory
  2. To cut off the rail lines supplying the capital of Richmond
  3. To prevent General Lee's army from escaping into the Shenandoah Valley
  4. To destroy the Confederate Navy's Atlantic fleet
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Correct answer: To cut off the rail lines supplying the capital of Richmond

Petersburg was the rail center that fed Richmond. The 10-month siege saw the extensive use of trench warfare, foreshadowing the tactics that would be used in World War I.

Difficulty: Medium Question 15 of 20

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