In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee the use of the South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R.R., Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sent Gen. James H. Wilson and Gen. August V Kautz south of Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock. The Wilson-Kautz raiders reached this point at sundown on June 22, and destroyed two trains and military supplies. A passenger train from the west stopped just short of the station, reversed course and backed all the way to Burkeville (about 35 miles) where news of the raid was telegraphed to Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond. Late in the evening, Gen. W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee’s cavalry fought a brief skirmish with the raiders.