16 USC § 423 - Petersburg National Battlefield; establishment

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s423"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 423 - Petersburg National Battlefield; establishment"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "423"
section_name: "Petersburg National Battlefield; establishment"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES"
subchapter_number: "LX"
subchapter_name: "NATIONAL MILITARY PARKS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 3, 1926, ch. 746, § 1, 44 Stat. 822; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 2, June 10, 1933; Ex. Ord. No. 6228, § 1, July 28, 1933; Pub. L. 87–603, § 1, Aug. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 403.)"
---


# § 423. Petersburg National Battlefield; establishment

In order to commemorate the campaign and siege and defense of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864 and 1865 and to preserve for historical purposes the breastworks, earthworks, walls, or other defenses or shelters used by the armies therein, the battle fields at Petersburg, in the State of Virginia, are declared a national battlefield whenever the title to the same shall have been acquired by the United States by donation and the usual jurisdiction over the lands and roads of the same shall have been granted to the United States by the State of Virginia—that is to say, one hundred and eighty-five acres or so much thereof as the Secretary of the Interior may deem necessary in and about the city of Petersburg, State of Virginia.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 3, 1926, ch. 746, § 1, 44 Stat. 822; Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 2, June 10, 1933; Ex. Ord. No. 6228, § 1, July 28, 1933; Pub. L. 87–603, § 1, Aug. 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 403.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“National battlefield” substituted in text for “national military park” in view of redesignation of Petersburg National Military Park as Petersburg National Battlefield by . See .

### Transfer of Portion of Lands to Secretary of the Army

> “That the Secretary of the Interior shall transfer to the Secretary of War [Army] jurisdiction over all lands owned by the United States lying south and east of the Hickory Hill Road within the Petersburg National Military Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Upon the date of the transfer, the lands shall cease to be a part of the Petersburg National Military Park and the Secretary of War [Army] shall thereafter administer the lands for military purposes.”

, , provided:

## Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Administrative functions of Petersburg National Military Park transferred to Department of the Interior by Ex. Ord. Nos. 6166 and 6228, set out as notes under , Government Organization and Employees.

National Park Service substituted for Office of National Parks, Buildings, and Reservations referred to in Ex. Ord. No. 6166, § 2, by , .