Farmville in Cumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
High Bridge
Critical Span
— Lee's Retreat —
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
1. High Bridge Marker
Inscription.
High Bridge. Critical Span. 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 first occurred on April 6, when Confederate cavalry prevented a mixed detachment of Union infantry and cavalry from capturing and burning the bridges to block the Confederate retreat. The second took place the next day, when withdrawing Confederates in turn attempted to destroy the structures to restrict pursuing Federals to the south side of the Appomattox from crossing or using them. They succeeded in burning several spans of the railroad superstructure, one of which collapsed into the river, but failed to destroy the wagon bridge when Union soldiers swarmed over it despite Confederate small-arms fire and extinguished the flames with canteens and wet tent canvas. , The Confederates - Gen. John B. Gordon's corps and Gen. William Mahone's division - continued retreating west. Gordon followed the South Side Railroad to Farmville, while Mahone took Jamestown Road to Cumberland Church, three miles north of the town. There the division entrenched, and soon Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys' Union corps, which had crossed the wagon bridge, closed in to attack.
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 first occurred on April 6, when Confederate cavalry prevented a mixed detachment of Union infantry and cavalry from capturing and burning the bridges to block the Confederate retreat. The second took place the next day, when withdrawing Confederates in turn attempted to destroy the structures to restrict pursuing Federals to the south side of the Appomattox from crossing or using them. They succeeded in burning several spans of the railroad superstructure, one of which collapsed into the river, but failed to destroy the wagon bridge when Union soldiers swarmed over it despite Confederate small-arms fire and extinguished the flames with canteens and wet tent canvas.
The Confederates - Gen. John B. Gordon's corps and Gen. William Mahone's division - continued retreating west. Gordon followed the South Side Railroad to Farmville, while Mahone took Jamestown Road to Cumberland Church, three miles north of the town. There the division entrenched, and soon Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys' Union corps, which had crossed the wagon bridge,
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closed in to attack.
Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 37° 19.441′ N, 78° 20.243′ W. Marker is in Farmville, Virginia, in Cumberland County. Marker is on River Road (County Route 600), on the right when traveling west. Located at the High Bridge parking area, along the High Bridge Trail State Park (the old Southside Railroad is now a rails-to-trails park). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Farmville VA 23901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. On the right is a photo of the High Bridge and wagon bridge, 1865, looking north. An inset photo shows 1914 bridge base and original brick piers.
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
2. Map on Marker
Morning of April 7, as troops moved into Farmville. Note the north seeking arrow pointed to the bottom of the map.
Regarding High Bridge. This marker was located at a pull off, roughly 1.3 miles further west on River Road. It was relocated when the High Bridge Trail State Park opened.
Also see . . . The Battles at High Bridge. Battle summary of the actions at High Bridge on April 6-7, 1865. (Submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
3. High Bridge Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
4. High Bridge
The wagon bridge crossed Appomattox River on the east side (left in this view) of the railroad bridge.
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
5. High Bridge From the Old Pull Off
The length of the bridge is apparent from the pull off, roughly 1.3 miles west of the rail-trail.
Photographed By Craig Swain, April 18, 2010
6. Area Map on Upper Left Corner
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,588 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.