Answer:
the correct answer is: 2) They were the defenders trying to protect Petersburg.
Explanation:
In the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War, the Confederate side played the role of defenders trying to protect Petersburg.
Petersburg, Virginia, was a critical supply and transportation hub for the Confederate Army. Recognizing its strategic importance, the Confederates constructed an extensive network of defensive earthworks, known as the Petersburg Defensive Line, around the city. They aimed to hold their position and prevent the Union Army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, from capturing Petersburg and potentially cutting off Confederate supply lines.
Throughout the siege, which lasted from June 1864 to April 1865, the Confederates defended their fortifications against Union assaults and conducted periodic counterattacks to maintain their defensive position. Despite their efforts, the Union Army eventually broke through the Confederate lines and forced the evacuation of Petersburg, leading to the subsequent surrender of the Confederates at Appomattox Court House.
Therefore, the correct answer is: 2) They were the defenders trying to protect Petersburg.
