Stony Creek in Sussex County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Nottoway River Crossings

Photographed by Mike Stroud, May 13, 2008

1. Nottoway River Crossings Marker

Inscription. Several important river crossings took place over the Nottoway River during two wars. Revolutionary War cavalry commander Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe led British forces across the river in this area on 11 May 1781, as he rode south to join Gen. Charles Cornwallis. In mid May, Cornwallis crossed the Nottoway River nearby, and reached Petersburg on 20 May. During the Civil War, at the end of Gen. James H. and Brig. Gen. August V. Kautz's railroad raids, a portion of Gen. Wilson's forces crossed the river nearby on 28 June 1864, on their way back to Union lines near Petersburg.

Erected 2003 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number UM-16.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 11, 1781.

Location. 36° 53.897′ N, 77° 24.036′ W. Marker is in Stony Creek, Virginia, in Sussex County. It is on Blue Star Highway (U.S. 301), on the left when traveling south. The marker is located near the

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bridge over Nottoway River, where US 301 parallels Interstate 95. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stony Creek VA 23882, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jones Chapel Methodist Church (approx. 1.9 miles away); Hunting Quarter Baptist Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); History At Stony Creek (approx. 3.3 miles away); Confederate Cannon (approx. 3.4 miles away); Sappony Baptist Church (approx. 4.4 miles away); Sappony Church (approx. 4.4 miles away); Sussex County / Dinwiddie County (approx. 5.9 miles away); Prince George County / Sussex County

Photographed by Mike Stroud, May 2008

2. Nottoway River Crossings Marker

Southbound I-95 on left, US 301 on right

(approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stony Creek.

Also see . . . Sappony Church, Stony Creek Depot ,Civil War in Virginia. Wilson and Kautz headed east and, on June 28, crossed the Nottoway River at the Double Bridges and headed north to Stony Creek Depot on the Weldon Railroad. Here, they were attacked by Major General Wade Hampton's cavalry division. (Submitted on May 20, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Additional Comments on Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe
Excerpt from the Lt. Col John Graves Simcoe Papers:

Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806) commanded the Queen’s Rangers—an American corps of hussars, or light cavalry, loyal to the British crown—during the Revolutionary War and later served as first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. Included are eighteen manuscript maps—many executed in watercolor—of military actions in Virginia. This collection gives great insight into the American Revolution from the British perspective along with documentation on the Williamsburg area.

From the John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,

Nottoway River Crossings Marker with bridge , looking north image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2008

3. Nottoway River Crossings Marker with bridge , looking north

Library, a part of the Research Division of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation - Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture:
The Special Collections section of the Library houses rare books, manuscripts, architectural drawings, and microfilm.

— Submitted May 20, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 8, 2026

4. Nottoway River Crossings Marker

View of the new bridge area, facing north.

Current crossing on US 301 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2008

5. Current crossing on US 301

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 8, 2026

6. Nottoway River Crossings Marker

The old 1950s bridge has been replaced and the marker is sited in an elevated position alongside a much more dangerous shoulder than previous. The slight slope prevents southbound traffic from seeing over the hill until they reach the crest.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,389 times since then and 146 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 4, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on June 18, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 20, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6. submitted on June 18, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.