Ewell Crosses the Appomattox

Ewell Crosses the Appomattox. Anxious Hours Along the River. , Confederate Gen. Richard Ewell's retreating troops filled the fields around you on April 4, 1865, eager to cross the rain-swollen Appomattox River a short distance to your left at Genito Bridge. Pursuing Union troops, eager for victory, were just a day's march away. But due to the fog of war, the needed pontoon bridge had not been deployed. Ewell's troops then slogged three miles south to cross on the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge at Mattoax Station. But there were more delays, as footplanks had to be laid over the tracks., Officer McHenry Howard wrote, "By 4 o'clock we were within one mile of [Mattoax], but as some flooring had to be laid... we halted and cooked a scanty supply of flour.... At dark we commenced to file by twos across the bridge, the men being cautioned to march in the very middle of the flooring, between the rails, as otherwise it might turn over." After burning the bridge behind them, Ewell's men camped a mile farther on., Gen. Robert E. Lee hoped his Army of Northern Virginia could be resupplied at Amelia Court House by railroad and Gen. G.W. Custis Lee's wagon train, which had crossed the river at Clementown Bridge. But Gen. Henry E. Davies' Federal cavalry attacked the wagons. Pvt. William Wilson of the 12th Virginia Cavalry recalled that, "The road was soon blocked with wagons, sacks of corn, oats, meal, flour, bacon, trunks, knapsacks, cooking utensils and every other article of camp equipage" Davies' troopers captured 200 wagons, 640 prisoners, and 11 battle flags., [Caption:] , McHenry Howard (left) served with the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA. He is pictured with his brother, Pvt. David Ridgely Howard of the 2nd Maryland Infantry, CSA.