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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Reams in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
Ream's Station
First Encounter
— Wilson-Kautz Raid —
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By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 1. Ream's Station Marker | | |
Inscription. 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 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, the advance guard of the Wilson-Kautz column, arrived here at Ream's Station about 7:30 a.m. on June 22 and burned the station and other buildings. The road in front of you was the Petersburg & Weldon R.R. bed. Gen. James Dearing's 800-man cavalry brigade of Gen. W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee's cavalry division was alerted, and it engaged the rear of Wilson's column in a running skirmish that continued some ten miles to Dinwiddie Court House.
[Reams Station] was guarded by a small body of militia. A portion of them were captured and the remainder dispersed. Here the sad but necessary work of destruction began. All the buildings at the station, together with a locomotive, and a train of five or six cars, were consigned to the flames."
- Edward P. Tobie, 1st Maine Cavalry
"The enemy's pickets were encountered near the Jerusalem Plank Road, and were closely pursued to Ream's Station, several of them being captured along the way. General Kautz's orders were to move directly to Southerland's on the South Side Railroad, but the captured pickets | | | | 
By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Kautz's Route Map | | Note the north seeking arrow pointed to the right of the map. | | |
informed him that General W.H.F. Lee, with two brigades of cavalry, was encamped in the path he was ordered to take. Being unwilling to endanger the expedition at the beginning by fostering an engagement, General Kautz turned the head of his column down the Weldon road, as if that was the object of the raid." - Trooper, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 37° 5.767′ N, 77° 25.245′ W. Marker is near Reams, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker is on Acorn Drive 0.1 miles south of Oak Grove Road (County Route 606), on the left when traveling south. Click for map. Located in front of the Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23805, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. A different marker also named Ream's Station (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Reams Station (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (about 500 feet away, in a direct line); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (about 800 feet away); North Carolina (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reams Station (approx. 4.2 miles away); The Petersburg Railroad (approx. 4.3 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Reams. | | | | 
By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Upper Left Inset Map | | Shows the CWT tour of the Wilson-Kautz Raid. | | |
More about this marker. In the upper center is a Sketch by Edwin Forbes of cavalry fighting. On the right is a map showing the course of Kautz's command around W.H.F. Lee's force. Portraits of Gens. Dearing and W.H.F. Lee flank the map. |
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By Craig Swain | |
| | | 4. Ream's Station Markers at the Oak Grove Church | | |
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By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 5. Site of Original Reams Station | | Acorn Road passes close to old Halifax Road roadbed. The modern day Halifax Road (CR 604) passes along the old road bed for the Weldon Railroad. At the time Reams Station was a building just northwest of the Oak Grove Church. The likely site of the actual station building was north of Oak Grove Road at the intersection of modern Halifax Road, behind the modern dwellings seen here. Modern day Reams Station is further east along the modern route of the railroad. | | |
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By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008 | |
| | | 6. Oak Grove United Methodist Church | | The original church was a landmark in the June 22 skirmish, the June 29 battle, and the August 25 battle around Reams Station. A new church was built on the foundation of the wartime church. When the new church was built, planks from the original showed musket ball holes and embedded canister balls. | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 313 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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