Map of the Richmond Petersburg and South Side Rail Road Connection

This engineering map shows the rail connection in Petersburg that linked the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to the South Side and Norfolk and Petersburg rail lines on the opposite side of the Appomattox River (at center). The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad originally ended in the Petersburg suburb of Pocahontas (center right) and did not cross the river. However, at the outset of the Civil War the Confederate military insisted that the rail lines link up in order to accelerate the movement of troops and supplies.