Near Powhatan in Powhatan County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lee's Last Camp
April 14, 1865
Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 25, 2025
1. Lee's Last Camp Marker
In this field on April 14, 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee settled into his last camp with a small group of staff officers. After four Years of campaigning and the clamor of tens of thousands of soldiers, Lee unsaddled Traveller, and entered his tent for the final time, alone in the quiet night. Just five days earlier, on April 9, he had surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. Lee did not attend the-formal surrender ceremonies but remained in his headquarters tent just over a mile north of the surrender ground.
On April 12, Lee left Appomattox for Richmond with Col. Walter Taylor, Col. Charles Marshall, and Maj. Giles Cooke. The first they slept in the woods a few miles beyond Buckingham County Court, day, Lee and his party rode more than twenty miles and spent night near Flanagan, Mill in Cumberland County. On April 14, they arrived nearby at the crowded house of Lee's, brother, Charles Carter Lee.
The men were invited to spend the night next in John Gilliam's house. Lee declined and slept in his tent here on Gilliam's. lawn. After breakfasting with Gilliams in the morning, Lee
this page online
(captions)
Lee's campaign chest -Courtesy American Civil War Museum, Richmond, VA
Lee on Traveller ca. 1866 Adam H Plecker - Courtesy Library of Congress
Lee's saddle Courtesy American Civil War Museum, Richmond, VA
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 April 14, 1865.
Location. 37° 36.078′ N, 77° 49.686′ W. Marker is near Powhatan, Virginia, in Powhatan County. It is on Huguenot Trail (Virginia Route 711) 0.1 miles east of Riverglade Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2630 Huguenot Trail, Powhatan VA 23139, United States
Photographed by Mike McKeown, April 25, 2025
2. Lee's Last Camp Marker
view of marker from parking area
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Lee's Last Camp (here, next to this marker); Lee's Final Bivouac (a few steps from this marker); Shiloh Baptist Church (approx. 2.6 miles away); James Pleasants (approx. 2.7 miles away); The 1936 Virginia Prison Recordings (approx. 3.3 miles away); Dahlgren's Raid (approx. 3½ miles away); Tanglewood Ordinary (approx. 3.7 miles away); a different marker also named "Dahlgren's Raid" (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powhatan.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Lees Last Bivouac (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location titled "Lee's Last Bivouac"
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
