Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Walker's Last Stand
Custer's Charges
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 26, 2015
1. Walker's Last Stand Marker
One of the last battles of the Civil War in Virginia took place here early in the evening of April 8, 1865. Confederate Gen. Reuben L. Walker, who commanded 100 guns of Gen. Robert E. Lees reserve artillery, made camp here late in the afternoon. Walker was shaving, and his men were cooking rations when Federal cavalrymen burst from the woods south of here. Walker formed one-third of his batteries into a semicircle, and his men began firing.
Gen. George A. Custer commanded the charging Federals, who had just captured Confederate supply trains at nearby Appomattox Station. Fighting without infantry support, Walkers men repulsed the first three charges, but at 8 P.M. Custers final assault resulted in the capture of 25 cannon, 200 wagons, and 1,000 prisoners. Most of Walkers command fled north to Oakville where the men buried 54 guns and disbanded the next day. Custers advance also secured the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. By holding the high ground west of Appomattox Court House, the Federal cavalry blocked Lees escape route and forced his surrender the next day.
Custers Division,as usual, went in on a charge. We had a thick piece of woods to get through to reach their Artillery. We received the most terrible fire of cannister that ever I saw. Soon getting out of the thicket we went on a perfect jump. Suddenly I felt a blow and a numbing sensation across my breast, & found myself turning a double summer set off into the bushes. Lt. Eri D. Woodbury, 1st Vermont Cavalry
Click or scan to see
this page online
(sidebar)
Pvt. Bernard Shields, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor for striking down Pvt. William Davis, 2nd Co., Washington Artillery of New Orleans, and capturing the battery's flag from Davis.
Pvt. Bernard Shields Courtesy John Elder Pvt. William Davis Courtesy Tulane University
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 8, 1865.
Location. 37° 21.914′ N, 78° 49.595′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. It can be reached from the intersection of Jamerson Lane (Virginia Route 1014)
Photographed by Bernard Fisher
2. Battle of Appomattox Station CWT Markers
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 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 walking distance of this marker: Confederate Artillery Position (here, next to this marker); Battle of Appomattox Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Appomattox Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Appomattox Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Carver-Price School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Winonah Camp / Mozella Price Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Heritage Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fighting to the End
Photographed by Bernard Fisher
3. Battle of Appomattox Station Confederate Position
Other markers no longer nearby. Custer's Third Brigade (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Winonah Camp / Mozella Price Home (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Carver-Price School (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. (Submitted on June 27, 2015.)
June 26, 2015
4. Battle of Appomattox Station
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2017
5. Welcome Sign To The Battlefield
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 13, 2025
6. Walker's Last Stand Marker
Marker has been mounted temporarily in the wooden interpretive kiosk on-site.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,514 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on May 5, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 6. submitted on January 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
