Petersburg

Petersburg, the third city of Virginia, on the south bank of the Appomattox River, 23 miles by rail S. of Richmond. The falls above supply water-power for foundries, cotton, flour, and paper mills, and especially tobacco-factories. Petersburg is a well-built place, and contains a fine park. In the campaign of 1864 Grant, failing to take Richmond, besieged Petersburg, and was repulsed in several attacks by General Beauregard, with heavy loss. Pop. (1890) 22,680.