The nine-month siege of Petersburg was made up of several dozen battles and engagements, including a critical three-day fight that August for possession of the Weldon Railroad. Known as the Battle of Globe Tavern, the fierce contest exploded when Grant extended his lines west across the railroad. Once again, Warren’s V Corps drew the tough assignment of spearheading the movement. When the smoke cleared, Warren was firmly astride the railroad, but only after some hard fighting.

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The initial Union position extended west along a tree line before turning south at the railroad. The Confederate divisions of Maj. Gens. Henry Heth and William Mahone advanced unseen through the woods, hitting Warren hard. The 140th New York was in danger of being cut off and fought its way to the rear, where the Zouaves re-formed under cover of Union artillery. Ordered to make an immediate counterattack, the Zouaves reclaimed the lost ground, rescuing many captured comrades, including their brigade commander.

The Confederate attacks battered but did not break the Federal lines — the V Corps still maintained its hold on the railroad. Heth and Mahone now shifted their attacks to the southern portion of the Union line, which paralleled the railroad. This time the Rebel reconnaissance was poor, and the Confederates walked into a trap. As soon as they reached the middle of an open field, their ranks were shredded by a withering cross-fire exploding from the Union breastworks.

For the 20th Maine, it was payback time. One soldier wrote, Our men enjoyed it very much, for we remembered how often we had been obliged to charge upon their lines, and be shot down by the thousands, while they were screened from our fire, and we now rejoiced that for once the tables were turned, and that to our advantage.

Having lost the Weldon Railroad, Petersburg’s last remaining lifeline was the Southside Railroad. Grant would continue his leftward sidle until that, too, fell under his control, dooming Petersburg and the Confederacy to their inevitable surrender.

One of the stepping stones to cutting the Southside Railroad was a battle called Peebles Farm. The Union V Corps again led the flanking push. Grant believed that Lee’s fortifications on the Confederates’ extreme right were incomplete and poorly manned. He was wrong.

On September 30, 1864, the V Corps came upon a line of Confederate breastworks supported by an artillery redoubt. The 16th Michigan, 83rd Pennsylvania and 32nd Massachusetts were told to capture the position. Unlike their fellow Little Round Top Regiments, the 16th Michigan had been under a cloud since Gettysburg. A portion of the regiment had given way under pressure, nearly losing Little Round Top. The regiment’s commander, Colonel Norval Welch, was among those who had pulled back during the confusion. Whether he lost his nerve or retreated up the hill in an attempt to rally his men remained a matter of controversy.

As Welch prepared his men to charge the Peebles Farm redoubt, he knew this would be his last battle. His enlistment had expired and no further fighting was required of him. Nonetheless, he decided to remain with his troops while awaiting his formal discharge. Perhaps he was looking for one final opportunity to erase the stigma of Gettysburg.

At last the order to advance was given, and the Union lines stepped forward. With Confederate artillery ripping holes in his lines, Welch led his men up to the walls of the Rebel fort. A commission to him who first mounts the parapet of that redoubt, called out Welch. Follow me! Sword in hand, Welch sprinted ahead of his men and leaped onto the walls of the redoubt. He climbed a few steps and then toppled backward with a bullet through his head.

Eager to avenge their colonel’s death, the Michigan men stormed over the fort’s walls, capturing 100 prisoners and a Rebel cannon. They spotted a second line of entrenchments and charged out, helping capture those works as well.

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