Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Walker's Last Stand

Custer's Charges

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 26, 2015

1. Walker's Last Stand Marker

Inscription.

Walker's Last Stand. Custer's Charges. One of the last battles of the Civil War in Virginia took place here early in the evening of April 8, 1865. Confederate Gen. Reuben L. Walker, who commanded 100 guns of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s reserve artillery, made camp here late in the afternoon. Walker was shaving, and his men were cooking rations when Federal cavalrymen burst from the woods south of here. Walker formed one-third of his batteries into a semicircle, and his men began ﬁring., Gen. George A. Custer commanded the charging Federals, who had just captured Confederate supply trains at nearby Appomattox Station. Fighting without infantry support, Walker’s men repulsed the ﬁrst three charges, but at 8 P.M. Custer’s ﬁnal assault resulted in the capture of 25 cannon, 200 wagons, and 1,000 prisoners. Most of Walker’s command ﬂed north to Oakville where the men buried 54 guns and disbanded the next day. Custer’s advance also secured the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. By holding the high ground west of Appomattox Court House, the Federal cavalry blocked Lee’s escape route and forced his surrender the next day., “Custer’s Division, as usual, went in on a charge. We had a thick piece of woods to get through to reach their Artillery. … We received the most terrible ﬁre of cannister that ever I saw. … Soon getting out of the thicket we went on a perfect jump. Suddenly I felt a blow and a numbing sensation across my breast, and found myself turning a double summer set off into the bushes.”, Lt. Eri D. Woodbury, 1st Vermont Cavalry, (sidebar) , Pvt. Bernard Shields, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor for striking down Pvt. William Davis, 2nd Co., Washington Artillery of New Orleans, and capturing the battery's ﬂag from Davis. , Pvt. Bernard Shields Courtesy John Elder Pvt. William Davis Courtesy Tulane University, (captions) , (top center) Gen. Reuben L. Walker Courtesy Valentine Richmond History Center / Gen. George A. Custer Courtesy Library of Congress , (top right) Lt. Eri D. Woodbury, received Medal of Honor for actions at Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864 – Courtesy Francis Guber Collection . This historical marker was erected by Virginia Civil War Trails. It is in Appomattox in Appomattox County Virginia

One of the last battles of the Civil War in Virginia took place here early in the evening of April 8, 1865. Confederate Gen. Reuben L. Walker, who commanded 100 guns of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s reserve artillery, made camp here late in the afternoon. Walker was shaving, and his men were cooking rations when Federal cavalrymen burst from the woods south of here. Walker formed one-third of his batteries into a semicircle, and his men began ﬁring.

Gen. George A. Custer commanded the charging Federals, who had just captured Confederate supply trains at nearby Appomattox Station. Fighting without infantry support, Walker’s men repulsed the ﬁrst three charges, but at 8 P.M. Custer’s ﬁnal assault resulted in the capture of 25 cannon, 200 wagons, and 1,000 prisoners. Most of Walker’s command ﬂed north to Oakville where the men buried 54 guns and disbanded the next day. Custer’s advance also secured the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. By holding the high ground west of Appomattox Court House, the Federal cavalry blocked Lee’s escape route and forced his surrender the next day.

“Custer’s Division,
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as usual, went in on a charge. We had a thick piece of woods to get through to reach their Artillery. … We received the most terrible ﬁre of cannister that ever I saw. … Soon getting out of the thicket we went on a perfect jump. Suddenly I felt a blow and a numbing sensation across my breast, & found myself turning a double summer set off into the bushes.”— Lt. Eri D. Woodbury, 1st Vermont Cavalry

(sidebar)
Pvt. Bernard Shields, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor for striking down Pvt. William Davis, 2nd Co., Washington Artillery of New Orleans, and capturing the battery's ﬂag from Davis.
Pvt. Bernard Shields Courtesy John Elder Pvt. William Davis Courtesy Tulane University

(captions)
(top center) Gen. Reuben L. Walker Courtesy Valentine Richmond History Center / Gen. George A. Custer Courtesy Library of Congress
(top right) Lt. Eri D. Woodbury, received Medal of Honor for actions at Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864 – Courtesy Francis Guber Collection

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: 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 8, 1865.

Location.

Battle of Appomattox Station image. Click for full size.

June 26, 2015

2. Battle of Appomattox Station

37° 21.914′ N, 78° 49.595′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Jamerson Lane (Virginia Route 1014) and Jones Street (Virginia Route 1012). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Confederate Artillery Position (here, next to this marker); Custer's Third Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); Carver-Price School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Winonah Camp / Mozella Price Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Heritage Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); Appomattox County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away); Appomattox County Units (approx. 0.7 miles away); Appomattox County Eternal Flame (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Appomattox.

Also see . . . Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. (Submitted on June 27, 2015.)

Battle of Appomattox Station CWT Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher

3. Battle of Appomattox Station CWT Markers

Battle of Appomattox Station Confederate Position image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher

4. Battle of Appomattox Station Confederate Position

Welcome Sign To The Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 16, 2017

5. Welcome Sign To The Battlefield

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,076 times since then and 90 times this year. Last updated on September 20, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.