dotted with formidable fortifications such as these, Confederate works stretched for ten miles around
Petersburg.
Fort Mahone was situated opposite the
Federal Fort Sedgwick at the point where the hostile lines converged most closely after the
battle of the Crater.
Owing to the constant cannonade which it kept up, the
Federals named it Fort Damnation, while
Fort Sedgwick, which was no less active in reply, was known to the
Confederates as Fort Hell.
Gracie's salient, further north on the
Confederate line, is notable as the point in front of which
General John B. Gordon's gallant troops moved to the attack on
Fort Stedman, the last desperate effort of the
Confederates to break through the
Federal cordon.
The views of
Gracie's salient show the
French form of
chevaux-de-frise, a favorite protection against attack much employed by the
Confederates.
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Fort Mahone--“Fort Damnation” |
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Traverses against cross-fire |
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Gracie's salient, and other forts along the ten miles of defenses |
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