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

Custer's First Last Stand

A "Living Triangle"

— The Battle of Trevilian Station —

Custer's First Last Stand Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

1. Custer's First Last Stand Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Nearby stood Trevilian Station, south of which Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton had parked his wagon train on the evening of June 10, 1864. At daylight the next day, Gen. Matthew C. Butler and Col. Gilbert J. Wright advanced north on the Fredericksburg Stage Road to probe for Federals.

About 8 a.m., Union Gen. George A. Custer's Michigan Brigade turned west onto the Gordonsville Road from the Nunn's Creek Road at Mildred Crossing, with Col. Russell A. Alger's 5th Michigan Cavalry leading the way. Alger, seeing Hampton's parked wagons and horses, charged and captured most of them. His charge, however, carried him beyond the wagon park and into Gen. Thomas L. Rosser's brigade, which was galloping south to counterattack. Rosser drove Custer's troopers and the captured wagons east into Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's division, which was approaching from Louisa Court House. Butler and Wright turned back to join the fighting and help surround Custer's command, which spent four hours alone in a "living triangle" and suffered heavy losses.

During the fighting, Custer's guidon bearer was mortally wounded and handed the brigade's flag to Custer, who ripped

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it from its staff and stuffed it into his shirt. Custer later carried a badly wounded trooper of the 5th Michigan Cavalry to safety and personally led a dismounted charge that retook one of his artillery pieces. Lee's men recovered Hampton's wagon train and horses and captured Custer's wagon train, including the headquarters wagon and all of Custer's personal effects.

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 June 10, 1864.

Location. 38° 3.053′ N, 78° 4.439′ W. Marker is near Louisa, Virginia, in Louisa County. Marker is at the intersection of Louisa Road (U.S. 33) and Danne Road (County Route 682), on the right when traveling west on Louisa Road. Located at the east entrance to the K & B Gas Station (BP). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17561 Louisa Road, Louisa VA 23093, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Custer Rescued (here, next to this marker); Trevilian Station Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Trevilians (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle of Trevillians (about 700 feet away); Netherland Tavern

Photographed By Pete Skillman, September 21, 2019

2. Custer's First Last Stand Marker

The marker has weathered.

(approx. 0.9 miles away); Ogg Farm (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bibb's Crossroads (approx. 2.8 miles away); Green Springs (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisa.

More about this marker. On the upper right the marker displays portraits of Col. Russel Alger, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Gen. George Custer (as a West Point Cadet), and Gen. Thomas Rosser. A map detailing the action described in the text for this phase of the battle is on the lower right.

Regarding Custer's First Last Stand. This is one of several markers interpreting the Battle of Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864. See the Battle of Trevilian Station Virtual Tour by Markers linked below for additional related markers.

Also see . . . Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation. The foundation has worked to preserve the remaining sections of the battlefield. A detailed self-guided driving tour of the battlefield is offered. This marker is at stop seven of the tour. (Submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

3. Battle Map

Note the north seeking arrow pointed to the bottom of the map

Trevilian Station Battlefield Driving Tour Stop Seven image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain

4. Trevilian Station Battlefield Driving Tour Stop Seven

Custer Runs the Gap image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

5. Custer Runs the Gap

Moving down Nunn's Creek Road, a trace of which exists as CR 693, Custer passed around Confederate cavalry under Gen. Fitzhugh Lee at Louisa. This placed Custer's Brigade on the railroad and directly behind Gen. Wade Hampton's position.

Virginia Central Railroad image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

6. Virginia Central Railroad

Here at Mildred Crossing, Custer was able to harrass Hampton's wagon train. While firmly in the Confederate rear area and able to cause substantial damage, Custer was also precariously detached from friendly support. This spot is about a mile east of the marker location.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2008. This page has been viewed 2,778 times since then and 108 times this year. Last updated on March 17, 2022. Photos: 1. submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 17, 2022, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. 3, 4. submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6. submitted on January 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.