Trevilians 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 Evan Dwyer, June 11, 2026

1. Custer's First Last Stand Marker

The original marker has been replaced with this near duplicate, in which only the linebreaks of the third paragraph are different. No words or images have been changed.

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,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

who ripped 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 11, 1864.

Location. 38° 3.053′ N, 78° 4.439′ W. Marker is near Louisa, Virginia, in Louisa County. It is in Trevilians. It 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 local gas station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17561 Louisa Road, Louisa VA 23093, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

2. Custer's First Last Stand Marker

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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: Custer Rescued (a few steps from this marker); Railroad Rails (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle of Trevillians (about 700 feet away); Battle of Trevilian Station (about 700 feet away); The Netherland's Tavern (approx. ¾ mile away); Netherland Tavern (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ogg Farm (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bibb's Crossroads (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisa.

Other markers no longer nearby. Trevilian Station Battle (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Battle of Trevilians (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker

Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

3. Battle Map

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

now near it).

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.

Note also that the Poindexter Farm is in private hands and is not a Civil War Trails site, despite the marker's map indicating it should be.

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 . . .
1. American Battlefield Trust - Trevilian Station. An authoritative source for information on the battle and battlefield preservation. (Submitted on August 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

2. 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

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

Photographed by Craig Swain

4. Trevilian Station Battlefield Driving Tour Stop Seven

(now six, with the deletion of the intended Poindexter Farm marker) of the tour. (Submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. Battle of Trevilian Station Virtual Tour by Markers. A set of markers that document the Battle of Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864. The order of appearance is generally aligned to the Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation driving tour, with accommodations made for convenience both in the town of Louisa at the beginning of the tour, and on the eastbound side of Route 33 headed back towards the cemetery. Because the C.G. Trevilian House at the 'modern' station does not have its own marker, reviewing this database for accompanying information when reading about the railroad tracks there is recommended for added interpretive value. (Submitted on August 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

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 August 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2008. This page has been viewed 3,824 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on March 17, 2022. Photos: 1. submitted on August 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 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.