Action at Tye River Marker

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Amherst in Amherst County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Action at Tye River

By Laura Troy, July 24, 2008

1. Action at Tye River Marker

Inscription. On 11 June 1864, about 800 yards east, the Botetourt Battery prevented the destruction of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge across the Tye River. This bridge was an important part of the Confederate railroad network for the movement of troops and supplies throughout Virginia. Confederate pickets of the Botetourt Battery, deployed as infantry and commanded by Capt. Henry C. Douthat, kept the Federal cavalry from destroying the bridge. This enabled Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early and the 2d Corps of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to reach Lynchburg by train, to prevent its capture by Union Maj. Gen. David Hunter.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number R 61.)

Location. 37° 39.286′ N, 78° 57.677′ W. Marker is in Amherst, Virginia, in Amherst County. Marker is on North Amherst Highway (U.S. 29) south of Ty River Road, on the right when traveling north. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Amherst VA 24521, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Cabellsville (approx. 3.7 miles away); Oak Ridge Estates (approx. 5.1 miles away); Birthplace of Rives (approx. 5.1 miles away); Nelson County / Appomattox County (approx. 6.5 miles away); Hurricane Camille (approx. 15.4 miles away); Boyhood Home of Colonel John Mosby (approx. 16.9 miles away).

By Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

2. Action at Tye River Marker

Additional comments.
1. Old Marker
This marker replaces an older R-61 with the same title, which stood on Highway 29, south of the Tye River Bridge. The old marker read, About 800 yards east, on June 11, 1864, the Botetourt Battery, C.S.A., prevented Federal Raiders from burning the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Bridge, thus enabling General Jubal Early to reach Lynchburg in time to save it from capture by General Hunter.

— Submitted August 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Credits. This page originally submitted on August 14, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 417 times since then. Photos: 1. Submitted on August 14, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 2. Submitted on September 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.