Wynne's Mill

Wynne's Mill, also known as Wynn's or Winn's Mill, was one of two antebellum tide mills on the Warwick River. Important for grinding grain and sawing lumber, mills were one of the primary economic cogs in agrarian Warwick County. However, in 1862, Wynne's Mill played another role., That spring, three sets of earthworks were constructed across the Peninsula as part of an extensive array of southern defenses to stall Union forces from advancing to the Confederate capitol at Richmond. The second set of fortifications stretched from Mulberry Island and Lee's Mill at one end and to Wynne's Mill and the batteries at Yorktown on the other. The Wynne's Mill redoubt and earthworks helped support nearby Dam No. 1, a spot along the river purposely backed up to make its passage impractical for artillery and infantry., During the month-long siege here, Confederate soldiers stationed at Wynne's Mill suffered from exposure and enemy fire. Lt. Robert H. Miller of the Concordia Rifles wrote his mother that he and his men "have dug Rifle pits and are compelled to eat sleep and stand in them from day to night and from night to day." The lines were so close and the rifle fire so deadly that "it had been necessary to cut zig-zag trenches, or bayous, to enable the men to pass into and from the works with as little exposure as possible." On April 11, Confederate soldier Cadmus Wilcox sent out a strike force from Wynne's Mill that drove the enemy skirmishers back from the river's edge into their entrenchment. The line at Dam No. 1 was tested on April 16 by Union troops who crossed the Warwick River to briefly enter Confederate works before being sent back across the water., Aside from this drama, the siege dragged on. The monotony in camp was occasionally broken by the sight of balloons floating over the lines. Several flights were made from Wynne's Mill, Lee Hall and Yorktown to observe the Federal siege preparations. Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder concluded that it was time to retreat. On the evening of May 3, the Confederates unleashed a tremendous bombardment to cover their withdrawal toward Williamsburg. By morning, the trenches at Wynne's Mill stood empty., The men have dug Rifle pits and are compelled to eat-sleep and stand in them from day to night and night to day. Lt. Robert H. Miller, Concordia Rifles