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Petersburg was a valuable southern link to the Confederate capital of Richmond. In early June of 1864, troops under the command of Lieutenant General US Grant, made large assaults at what he considered to be the weakest links in the Confederate fortifications . On June 16th and 17th, these assaults were turned back by the Confederates. At that point General Lee sent troops to reinforce Petersburg and he himself took charge of the city's defense. After continued assaults, General Grant believed he could not break through the fortifications and decided to place the city under siege, much like he did at Vicksburg. Resigned to the fact that a battle victory was useless, Grant ordered his forces to entrench themselves around the city's fortifications. The siege would last 10 months.

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Q: What caused Union General US Grant to place the city of Petersburg under siege?
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Who was the general for the union at the battle of petersburg?

Ulysses S. Grant was in command of Union forces at Petersburg.


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