Near Farmville in Cumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Cumberland Church
Union Closes In
| | Lees Retreat | |
Here at Cumberland Church, in the afternoon of April 7, 1865, part of the Army of Northern Virginia entrenched to protect the route west to Appomattox Station, where supplies awaited the men. The Confederate line, across the road behind you, stretched a third of a mile to the north, where it then curled around to the west. After repulsing several Union assaults, the Confederates also turned back an attack on their left flank, where Gen. William Mahone held the line. The Federals dug in as evening fell. Under cover of darkness, the Confederate army slipped away but had lost valuable time as the Union army closed in.
It was here that evening, Gen. Robert E. Lee declined a request for surrender sent to him by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. From Cumberland Church, Lee could see the Blue Ridge Mountains; he still hoped to move west and then escape to North Carolina.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1865.
Location. 37° 20.738′ N, 78° 23.127′ W. Marker is near Farmville, Virginia, in Cumberland
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Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Cumberland Church (here, next to this marker); Engagement at Cumberland Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); James F. Lipscomb (approx. one mile away); Needham Law School (approx. 1.6 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 2.3 miles away); Confederate Veterans Monument (approx. 2.4 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away); Confederate Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmville.
More about this marker. The top of the marker features a portrait of Gen. William Mahone, and three battle maps showing troop positions at 1:00 P.M., 4:15 P.M. and Evening.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007
3. Cumberland Church
On April 7, 1865, Union troops encountered Confederates entrenched around this church. Despite several attacks the Confederate line held.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,560 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on September 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
