elkasricivwarproject


 * The importance of trenches in the civil war **









Petersburg was the seventh largest city in Virginia and was part of the confederacy. It was along the Appomattox river and Petersberg was where a grand majority of products were made. Tobbaco, cotton and iron were manufactured there. It was especially prosporous for two reasons: first was their use of slaves for almost free, productive labor, and the second was because it was where 5 different railroads resided. This railroad went south and west and caused for very easy transportation.General grant became very interested in Petersburg because of the transportation that was available and because it was a key point for the confederates so taking hold of it would be very advantageous.The battle happened on June 15th-17th and the confederates won because they were outnumbered and used trenches.Trenches were a very powerful and strategic way to win a battle, and are almost impossible for the opposing side to defeat. Trenches were used in many battles. And generals spent a lot of time enforcing the use of trenches and took the time to dig in strong trenches.Trenches were usually not straight because they would be more prone to sweeping fires. They has to be zigzagged.Trenches have a bad reputation because of things like mud, bodies and rats but despite all of those they saved countless lives and protected the soldiers from artillery, They also served as good watch places. They were often different rows of trenches, and the first ones were mostly covered by tangled barbed wire. Trenches were used at cold harbor, and gave confederate soldiers protection as they could kill union troops. Generals would say that battles where trenches were used wasn’t war, but murder because the other troops had no hope.

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