Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 8, 2024
1. The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House Marker
"The firing soon became sharp and vigorous."
The Attack on Sheridan's Right Flank
In the mid-afternoon of March 31, 1865, opposing forces were converging on Danse's Ford, 1˝ miles to your left along Chamberlain's Bed. Before Davies could return the main body of his Federal cavalry brigade to the ford after being sent to reinforce Smith at Fitzgerald's Ford, Pickett's Division moved against Davies' small force. One of Davies' troopers recalled, "The firing soon became sharp and vigorous." Pickett brushed aside the small Federal force, driving Davies back to the Dinwiddie Court House Road.
Colonel Thomas Munford's Confederate cavalry marching from Five Forks, joined Pickett's advancing infantry to create a half mile wide battleline. Union Brigadier General Thomas Devin arrived with reinforcements, Colonel Peter Stagg's Brigade, and took command. Devin ordered Fitzhugh's Brigade to fall back down the Dinwiddie Court House Road and the Union cavalry took up a position in this vicinity. Soon Pickett's force managed to drive a wedge into the Union position, splitting it in two.
Devin was then ordered to withdraw to
this page online
Union Lieutenant Colonel Horace Porter witnessed the withdrawal of several of Sheridan's brigades who had been cut off from the main body along the Crump Road (now Boisseau Road). "I turned the corner of the Brooks crossroad (present day Turkey Egg Road) and the Five Forks Road just as the rear of our cavalry was passing it, and encountered one of Sheridan's bands, under a heavy fire, playing "Nellie Bly" as cheerily as if it were furnishing music for a country picnic." Now Pickett wheeled his command to the south to try and press his advantage.
For more information on tours, preservation efforts and the history of the battlefields in and around Petersburg, visit the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation at www.petebattlefields.org
Erected 2024 by Petersburg Battlefields Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 31, 1865.
Location. 37° 6.624′ N, 77° 35.182′ W. Marker is in Dinwiddie, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. It can be reached from Courthouse Road (Virginia
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 8, 2024
2. The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House Markers
Original location. Later moved to corresponding tour stops.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, 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 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: A different marker also named The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House (approx. one mile away); Southside High School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dinwiddie Normal Industrial School
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 28, 2025
3. The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House Marker
View from Courthouse Road facing west. The marker is oriented so the reader faces this parking lot from the corner at left.
More about this marker. The marker was originally positioned on the driveway for the Bonneville Farm in 2024 until it could be placed at the middle school the following year.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This marker is one of five that comprise the Battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse Driving Tour (4 Stops):
Also see . . .
1. Petersburg Battlefields Foundation. (Submitted on June 8, 2024.)
2. Petersburg Battlefields Foundation Facebook Page. (Submitted on June 8, 2024.)
3. Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on June 8, 2024.)
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 28, 2025
4. The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House Marker
View from the marker facing northeast, from the parking lot corner across Courthouse Road towards the Middle School's sports fields.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 28, 2025
5. Battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse Driving Tour
This marker is Stop 3 of 4.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2024, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 315 times since then and 71 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2024, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
