Historical highway markers

Battle Of Petersburg, 25 April 1781--East Hill

Historical highway marker QA-22 · Petersburg

To the west stood East Hill (Bollingbrook), home of the widow Mary Marshall Tabb Bolling. After the 25 Apr. 1781 Battle of Petersburg, British Maj. Gen. William Phillips and Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold located their headquarters at the house. The British reoccupied it on 9 May, after returning from Richmond. The following day, Maj. Gen. Lafayette shelled Petersburg, from the heights on the north bank of the Appomattox River. After becoming gravely ill, Phillips died there on 13 May. Lieut. Gen. Charles Cornwallis marched into town on 20 May, uniting his force with Arnold's and kept his headquarters at East Hill until he departed on 24 May.

Department of Historic Resources, 2005