| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Farmville — F 69 — Randolph-Macon Medical School |
| | Just to the west was the medical school of John Peter Mettauer, which became a branch of Randolph-Macon College in 1847. It was discontinued, probably in 1861. Dr. Mettauer, one of the leading surgeons of the day, practiced until his death in 1875. — Map (db m19805) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Meherrin — Meherrin Station — “Wrapt in Smoke” — Wilson-Kautz Raid |
| | 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. Wilson, entrenched at Nottoway Court House, received word of Kautz’s success in destroying Burkeville Junction early on the morning of June 24. He therefore decided to withdraw from the field by the Hungarytown Road and join Kautz at Meherrin . . . — Map (db m19257) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Battle of Sailors Creek |
| | (Front):Battles of Sailors Creek
April 6, 1865 "My God! Has the army been dissolved?" General R. E. Lee
Hillsman's Farm US 442 CS 3400 Marshall's Crossroads US 172 CS 2600 Lockett's Farm (Double Bridges) US 536 CS 1700
Totals include killed, wounded, missing and captured. (Back):In remembrance of the Confederate and Union Soldiers who fought in the surrounding hills with great honor and perseverance on April 6, 1865. During the three engagements each regiment participated . . . — Map (db m11798) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Cavalry Battle at High Bridge — Union Opportunity Lost — Lee’s Retreat |
| | Just northeast of here, on the afternoon of April 6, 1865, a Union detachment tried and failed to burn High Bridge – where the South Side Railroad crossed the Appomattox River – and restrict the Confederate retreat to the south side of the river. Gen. Theodore Read, leading the mixed infantry and cavalry group, sent his troopers under Col. Francis Washburn on a scout to the bridge. There they drove off a small Confederate guard but turned back when they heard firing behind them. . . . — Map (db m11820) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Ewell’s Line of Defense — The Confederates Dig In |
| | On Thursday, April 6, 1865, this high ground above Little Sailor’s Creek was protected by troops from the Richmond fortifications under Confederate General Richard S. Ewell. They hurriedly threw up a line of breastworks consisting of fence rails and earth in preparation for the inevitable attack. For many, this would be their first and last battle. Shortly after 5 p.m., Union artillery under Major Andrew Cowan, positioned directly across the valley at the Hillsman farm, began a thirty minute . . . — Map (db m11793) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — F 73 — High Bridge |
| | One mile north stood the Southside Railroad Bridge, spanning the 75-foot-wide Appomattox River. On 6 April, 1865, nine hundred Union soldiers attempting to burn the 2500-foot-long, 126-foot-high structure were captured by Confederate cavalry. Crossing on 7 April, retreating Confederates burned four spans but failed to destroy the lower wagon bridge thus allowing Union soldiers to cross and attack at Cumberland Church north of Farmville. — Map (db m10221) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Marshall’s Crossroads |
| | April 6, 1865 Union cavalry found Confederate infantry posted here along the road to Rice’s Depot. While others fought along Little Sailor’s Creek at Hillsman’s farm, the horse soldiers attacked this portion of Lee’s army which eventually withdrew from the field or were captured. Next Stop Lockett House 4.9 miles — Map (db m11794) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Hillsman House |
| | April 6, 1865 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. Next Stop Marshall’s Crossroads 1.3 miles — Map (db m11795) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Holt’s Corner |
| | April 6, 1865 While passing through this intersection, the Confederate column was attacked by Union cavalry. Consequently, part of Lee’s army, and the main wagon train, turned north onto the Jamestown Road while the main portion continued straight ahead to Rice’s Depot. . Next Stop Hillsman House .9 miles — Map (db m11799) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Lockett House |
| | April 6, 1865 While Confederate troops were attempting to cross Sailor’s Creek on the bridges below, the fighting between the two forces began here and continued into the bottomlands. After the battle, James Lockett’s bullet-ridden house was then pressed into service as a field hospital. Next Stop Double Bridges .7 miles — Map (db m11805) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Double Bridges |
| | April 6, 1865 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. Next Stop Rice’s Depot 5.1 miles — Map (db m11808) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Rice’s Depot |
| | April 6, 1865 Confederate troops began entrenching on the high ground across the road from Burkesville Junction. Upon the approach of the Union army, the forces skirmished briefly until darkness ended the fighting. General Lee headquartered here before his march to Farmville. Next Stop Cavalry Battle at High Bridge 1.9 miles — Map (db m11814) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lee’s Retreat — Cavalry Battle at High Bridge |
| | April 6, 1865 About 900 Union infantry and cavalry were sent from Burkeville to burn this South Side Railroad trestle over the Appomattox River. Pursued by Confederate cavalry in the engagement which followed nearby, their bridge-burning mission failed and most were captured. Next Stop Farmville 4.8 miles — Map (db m11819) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — M 24 — Lee's Retreat |
| | Two miles north are the battlefields of Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865. There Grant captured more men than were captured in any other one day's field engagement of the war. — Map (db m10222) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Lockett House — Battle of Sailor’s Creek — Lee’s Retreat |
| | 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. Gordon’s corps, which served as the rear guard for the Army of Northern Virginia, also protected the Confederate wagon train. To avoid the fighting near the Hillsman House, the train was rerouted first to the . . . — Map (db m11804) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Overton / Hillsman House — War's Horror Knocks at the Door |
| | As night began to fall here on, April 6, 1865, the hard fought battles of Little Sailor's Creek and the crossroads near the Marshall Farm draw to a close. Federal surgeons work by the little natural light that's still available. They are inside the main doorways trying to save as many of the wounded as possible from both armies. Hospital stewards prepare men for surgery and assist with the gruesome task of amputating limbs, bandaging wounds, and trying to comfort the wounded. This house, built . . . — Map (db m10274) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Z 285 — Prince Edward County / Nottoway County |
| | (Front): Prince Edward County Area 356 Square Miles Formed from Amelia, and named for Prince Edward, son of Frederick, prince of Wales, and younger brother of King George III. General Joseph E. Johnston was born in this county; Hampden-Sydney College is in it. (Back): Nottoway County Area 310 Square Miles Formed in 1753 from Amelia, and named for Prince Edward, son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and younger brother of King George III. General Joseph E. Johnston was born . . . — Map (db m10223) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Rice’s Depot — Retreat and Pursuit — Lee’s Retreat |
| | Gen. James Longstreet’s corps, leading the Confederate retreat westward, reached Rice’s Depot along the South Side Railroad and entrenched on April 6, 1865, while the Battle of Sailor’s Creek raged to the east. Here Longstreet guarded the road from Burkeville Junction and blocked Union access to High Bridge via the railroad. From here, Gen. Robert E. Lee rode back towards the Sailor’s Creek battlefield and learned of the disaster that had befallen the army there. Part of Gen. Edward O.C. Ord’s . . . — Map (db m11829) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — Sailor’s Creek |
| | Here Lee fought his last battle, April 6, 1865. Ewell almost won a great vic- tory but was overwhelmed by Sheridan. Nottoway Chapter U.D.C. 1928 — Map (db m11806) |
| Virginia (Prince Edward County), Rice — W. R. Turner Memorial Trek |
| | Erected in memory of W. R. Turner, historian of Blackstone, Virginia, for his work to preserve the historic battlefields and routes of General Robert E. Lee’s retreat br>Centennial Year 1961 Piedmont Area Explorer Scouts B.S.A. Erected by Blackstone Virginia Lions Club — Map (db m11800) |
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