Farmville in Cumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

High Bridge

Critical Span

— Lee's Retreat —

High Bridge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

1. High Bridge Marker

Inscription. From here you can see the 1914 steel railroad bridge that spans the Appomattox River above the brick piers of the antebellum High Bridge, which carried the South Side Railroad. The old wooden bridge and the wagon bridge, just to the east of it, were the scene of two desperate engagements in April 1865. The first occurred on April 6, when Confederate cavalry prevented a mixed detachment of Union infantry and cavalry from capturing and burning the bridges to block the Confederate retreat. The second took place the next day, when withdrawing Confederates in turn attempted to destroy the structures to restrict pursuing Federals to the south side of the Appomattox from crossing or using them. They succeeded in burning several spans of the railroad superstructure, one of which collapsed into the river, but failed to destroy the wagon bridge when Union soldiers swarmed over it despite Confederate small-arms fire and extinguished the flames with canteens and wet tent canvas.

The Confederates - Gen. John B. Gordon's corps and Gen. William Mahone's division - continued retreating west. Gordon followed the South Side Railroad to Farmville,

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while Mahone took Jamestown Road to Cumberland Church, three miles north of the town. There the division entrenched, and soon Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys' Union corps, which had crossed the wagon bridge, closed in to attack.

Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.

Location. 37° 19.441′ N, 78° 20.243′ W. Marker is in Farmville, Virginia, in Cumberland County. It is on River Road (County Route 600), on the right when traveling west. Located at the High Bridge parking area, along the High Bridge Trail State Park (the old Southside Railroad is now a rails-to-trails park). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Farmville VA 23901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

Map on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

2. Map on Marker

Morning of April 7, as troops moved into Farmville. Note the north seeking arrow pointed to the bottom of the map.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The High Bridge (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named The High Bridge (approx. 1½ miles away); African-Americans at High Bridge (approx. 1.6 miles away); Camp Paradise (approx. 1.7 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 2.7 miles away); Needham Law School (approx. 2.7 miles away); Confederate Veterans Monument (approx. 2.7 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. High Bridge Trail State Park (was approx. one mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. On the right is a photo of the High Bridge and wagon bridge, 1865, looking north. An inset photo shows 1914 bridge base and original brick piers.

Regarding High Bridge. This marker was located at a pull off, roughly 1.3 miles further west on River

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

3. High Bridge Marker

Road. It was relocated when the High Bridge Trail State Park opened.

Also see . . . The Battles at High Bridge. Battle summary of the actions at High Bridge on April 6-7, 1865. (Submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

4. High Bridge

The wagon bridge crossed Appomattox River on the east side (left in this view) of the railroad bridge.

High Bridge From the Old Pull Off image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

5. High Bridge From the Old Pull Off

The length of the bridge is apparent from the pull off, roughly 1.3 miles west of the rail-trail.

Area Map on Upper Left Corner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, April 18, 2010

6. Area Map on Upper Left Corner

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,107 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.