From here you can see the 1914 steel railroad bridge that spans the Appomattox River above the brick piers of the antebellum High Bridge, which carried the South Side Railroad. The old wooden bridge and the wagon bridge, just to the east of it, were the scene of two desperate engagements in April 1865. The […]
Confederate troops entrenched here to protect the road from Burkeville Junction and skirmished with Union troops advancing from that direction.
In this ground, the Confederate column and wagon train became bogged down while crossing Sailor’s Creek. The Union forces in pursuit then assailed the Southerners and captured a large number of prisoners and wagons before darkness put an end to the fighting.
Here, around the home of James S. Lockett, desperate fighting occurred near sundown on April 6, 1865, when the Union corps commanded by Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys almost overwhelmed Gen. John B. Gordon’s Confederate corps. The house, just across the road, still bears the scars of battle.
Union forces assembled along this ridge while Confederate troops prepared on the opposite slope. Federal forces crossed Little Sailor’s Creek for a fierce battle which compelled many Southerners to surrender. The house served as a hospital for both armies.
At this road junction, part of Lee’s army turned north while the main portion continued ahead to the crossing of Little Sailor’s Creek.
Lee found Union cavalry and infantry across his line of retreat at this station on the Richmond and Danville Railroad. Rather than attacking the entrenched Federals, he chose to change direction and begin a night march toward Farmville where rations awaited the army.
During this day, the entire Confederate line would march west on the Rice-Deatonville Road toward Farmville. Constantly pressing Lee’s rearguard, Union troops would fight a brief action at every turn. These delays would eventually lead to the Battle of Sailor’s Creek.tion here on the way to Farmville.
Lee brought all his troops to this village from Richmond and Petersburg, hoping to continue into North Carolina and join forces with General Joseph E. Johnston’s army.
When Gen. Robert E. Lee evacuated the Army of Northern Virginia from Petersburg and Richmond on April 2-3, 1865, he ordered the army’s wings to unite at Amelia Court House, where trains would meet them with food and other supplies. The army would then march south to North Carolina and join forces with Gen. Joseph […]
