Rice in Prince Edward County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Cavalry Battle at High Bridge

Union Opportunity Lost

— Lee’s Retreat —

Cavalry Battle at High Bridge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

1. Cavalry Battle at High Bridge Marker

Inscription. 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.

Gens. Thomas L. Rosser’s and Thomas T. Munford’s cavalry had attacked the Federal infantry. Washburn’s command charged into the fray, and in the vicious hand-to-hand fighting Washburn fell mortally wounded while Read was killed outright. Some of the Union infantrymen escaped to High Bridge but surrendered when the Confederate cavalry overwhelmed them.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 6, 1865.

Location. 37° 16.517′ N, 78° 19.431′ W. Marker is in Rice, Virginia, in Prince Edward County. It is on

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Prince Edward Hwy (U.S. 460), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in a pulloff on Route 460. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rice VA 23966, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: High Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Rice’s Depot (approx. 1.8 miles away); Action at High Bridge (approx. 2.2 miles away); Battle of Sailor's Creek (approx. 2.2 miles away); African-Americans at High Bridge (approx. 2.3 miles away); Camp Paradise (approx. 2.4 miles away); a different marker also named The High Bridge (approx. 2.4 miles away); a different marker also named The High Bridge (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rice.

Other markers no longer nearby. Cavalry Battle at High Bridge (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Rice’s Depot (was approx. 1.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The bottom left of the marker features an 1865 photograph of High Bridge over the Appomattox River. The upper middle of the marker contains a painting of the “Charge of 4th Mass. Cavalry at High Bridge.” The right side of the marker is a battle map of the cavalry charge, along with portraits of Gen. Theodore Read, Col. Francis

Markers on Lee’s Retreat image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

2. Markers on Lee’s Retreat

Two markers for the Cavalry Battle at High Bridge on Lee’s Retreat are found at this location.

Washburn, Gen. Thomas Munford and Gen. James Dearing, who was, mortally wounded here and was the last Confederate general to die in the war.

Also see . . .
1. Lee's Retreat to Appomattox. Virginia Civil War Trails. (Submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. Lee's Retreat. Virginia's Retreat guide. (Submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

3. High Bridge Battlefield Museum. (Submitted on May 31, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Battle Map from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2008

3. Battle Map from Marker

This map shows the troop movements during the Cavalry Battle and it's relation to the position of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,340 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.