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

Double Bridges

Fateful Decision: Wilson Turns North

— Wilson-Kautz Raid —

Double Bridges CWT Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 21, 2009

1. Double Bridges CWT Marker

Inscription. In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee the use of the South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R.R., Gen. Ulysses S Grant sent Gen. James H. Wilson and Gen. August V. Kautz south of Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock. Racing the pursuing Confederate cavalry for the safety of the Union lines at Petersburg after accomplishing most of his mission, Wilson paused near here on June 28 to consider two options. He could either ride past Jarratt’s Station to the south, which was the longer route, or take the more direct route by Stony Creek and Ream’s Station, which Wilson understood before the raid began would be in Federal hands on his return. Wilson chose the shorter route to Ream’s Station. Federal advance met Confederate pickets skirmishing across the Double Bridges but pushed on to the Stony Creek Depot.

“Before reaching Nottoway River General Wilson consulted with me which course to pursue. He had learned from Negroes that [Federal] General Meade had occupied Ream's Station. I gave my opinion that he could go either way by not delaying. I thought that he could pass at either point by continuous marching. He finally decided to move on to Ream’s Station as General Meade had promised to be on the look out for his return. For some reason, however, during the afternoon I found the
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column had left the Boydton Road and was tending toward Stony Creek Station.” - Gen. August V. Kautz

“Here we charged and drove them across the bridges, giving them no time to destroy them.” - Lt. Col. George Purrington, 2nd Ohio Cavalry

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 month for this entry is June 1864.

Location. 36° 49.377′ N, 77° 35.313′ W. Marker is in Purdy, Virginia, in Greensville County. It is at the intersection of Smoky Ordinary Road and Purdy Road, on the left when traveling east on Smoky Ordinary Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31 Smoky Ordinary Rd, Emporia VA 23847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brunswick County / Greensville County (approx. 5.9 miles away); Meherrin Indians (approx. 5.9 miles away); Brunswick County, Virginia (approx. 5.9 miles away); Mabry's Chapel (approx. 5.9 miles away); Site of Homestead (approx. 6 miles away); Jarratt's Station

Smoky Ordinary Rd & Purdy Rd image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 21, 2009

2. Smoky Ordinary Rd & Purdy Rd

(approx. 6.8 miles away); Old Halifax Road (approx. 7.1 miles away); Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (approx. 7.3 miles away).

More about this marker. On the left is a sketch entitled "Advancing under difficulties." On the upper right are portraits of "Gen. August V. Kautz" and "Gen. James H. Wilson". On the lower right is a photo with the caption, "Bottlenecks often formed at bridges when slow-moving wagon trains, such as this Union example photographed in June 1864, crowded the narrow crossing points."

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,788 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.