Radford, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
New River Bridge
Attack on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
On May 10, 1864, the day after defeating Confederate forces in the bloody battle of Cloyd's Mountain, Union Gen. George Crook's Army of the Kanawha attacked and burned this railroad bridge over the New River. During the Civil War, the railroad was a major strategic resource, allowing the rapid massing of troops and the long-distance delivery of food and munitions. U.S. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's plans for a Union offensive on all fronts in 1864 led to the destruction of this important 780-foot bridge.
By mid-morning, Crook's 6,000 men, who had torn up railroad tracks as they advanced from Dublin, arrived at the north end of the bridge with 12 pieces of artillery. Confederate commander Col. John McCausland had placed his 2,000 soldiers and 14 guns at the south end of the bridge after burning the turnpike bridge at Ingles Ferry. Sharpshooters for both sides occupied the riverbanks. The U.S. forces included two future presidents: Col. Rutherford B. Hayes and Lt. William McKinley.
An artillery duel followed. By 1 p.m., the Confederates had expended their ammunition and withdrew to Christiansburg. The Federals then burned the bridge's wooden upper structure but left the stone piers standing for lack of explosives. Deep in enemy territory and unsure of the fate of the other Union armies in Virginia, Crook returned to West Virginia. By June 11, train traffic across the New River was restored until Gen. George Stoneman's Union troops disabled several bridge trusses on April 6, 1865, three days before Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1865.
Location. 37° 8.057′ N, 80° 34.827′ W. Marker is in Radford, Virginia. Marker can be reached from Berkley Williams Drive, 0.7 miles Charlie Coles Drive. Marker is on pathway that runs along the New River in Bisset Park. From parking lot at western end of the park, walk across picnic area to read the marker. To see the present-day railroad bridge and the old piers, follow the path to your left for a short distance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Radford VA 24141, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The City by the River (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Railroad Arrives (about 500 feet away); Westward Migration (about 500 feet away); Mary Draper Ingles (about 500 feet away); Home Guards (about 700 feet away); Montgomery County / Pulaski County (approx. half a mile away); The New River (approx. half a mile away); Starnes (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Radford.
More about this marker. Illustration on the marker is a drawing of the R.R. Bridge at New River by Louis Miller ca. 1853 (Va. Historical Society). On the right side of the marker is a map of the area detailing the unit movements described in the text.
Regarding New River Bridge. Radford was known as Central Depot.
Also see . . . Geology and the Civil War: Union Raiders in the New River Valley. Unknown website PDF (Submitted on July 25, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,185 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 29, 2021, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.