St. John’s Church

St. John’s Church. Stolen Silver. , 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. While passing through Lunenburg County on the return to the Union 1ines at Petersburg, discipline broke down among some of the Federal raiders who pillaged public and private property. The plundering of St. John's Church, from which a silver communion service was taken, especially outraged local residents. The service was later recovered by Confederate cavalry from Wilson's headquarters wagons abandoned at the Battle of Ream's Station on June 29. The Church building was moved from its original location three miles south to this spot after the war., [Sidebar:] , This communion set is on display at the Ripberger Public Library, located three-and-one-half blocks north at 117 S. Broad Street.,

“The residence of Captain William A. Adams...was robbed of every light article of value it contained, the furniture broken up, and the house then committed to the flames. We hear many other reports of valuable residences ransacked and burnt.” - Richmond Daily Dispatch, July 1, 1864, “[The Federals plundered] a set of silver service, for which was paid $5,000 before the war. They also took all of Mr. [Edward] Stoke’s Negro men, and much gold and silver coin.” - Richmond Daily Dispatch, July 9, 1864