In 1862, a Confederate food transport was en route to soldiers when it was misdirected and surrounded by Union troops. General Robert E. Lee ordered an attempt to rescue the rations resulting in the Battle of Petersburg. It was here that Confederate troops led by Colonel Ben Cameron attacked the Union entrenchments under Captain Phil Stoneman. The two men were childhood schoolmates whose families were very close despite being from different sides of the Mason Dixon line. Colonel Cameron and his men had already overtaken two waves of opposition when he unexpectedly delayed an advance to come to the aid of a wounded Union soldier. Northern troops cheered when they saw the gesture and the colonel's life was spared when his final charge was ineffective and most of his men were killed.

 

 

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burbank, California, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

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