Petersburg

City and port in southeast Virginia, on the Appomattox River, 22 mi/35 km south of Richmond; population (2000) 33,700. Industries include tobacco-processing, boat building, and the manufacture of textiles, leather products, and chemicals. It was established in 1748 on the site of Fort Henry (1645), and was the site of American Revolution and Civil War battles.

During the Civil War, Petersburg was almost the last stronghold of the Confederate army; it was defended by 9 mi/15 km of fortifications. The Unionist siege lasted nine months from July 1864, and the Confederate General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse followed within days of its capitulation. Unionist losses at Petersburg amounted to some 30,000.