Mahone’s victory at the Crater helped the siege of Petersburg to drag on for eight more bloody months. During that time the regiments of the Old Dominion Brigade added more battle honors to their banners, but their courage could only delay the eventual Federal breakthrough at Petersburg in early April 1865.

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The Virginians then moved east in the woeful retreat to Appomattox Court House. During the flight, Mahone’s former regiments continued to exhibit the degree of skill and courage they had shown from the Wilderness to the Crater, but it all ended when Lee surrendered on April 9. Though their bravery could not stave off defeat for the Confederacy, the members of the Old Dominion Brigade could go home comfortable in the knowledge they had done all they could to defend their namesake state.

This article was written by Arnold Blumberg and originally appeared in the July 2004 issue of America’s Civil War. For more great articles be sure to pick up your copy of America’s Civil War.

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