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

First Contact

"A considerable fight"

— The Battle of Trevilian Station —

First Contact Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 11, 2026

1. First Contact Marker

Inscription. Having reached Louisa Court House on June 10, 1864, Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton's cavalry divisions camped around the Virginia Central Railroad and across Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan's route to Gordonsville. About 3 A.M. on June 11, Confederate Gen. Williams C. Wickham's Virginia cavalry brigade left camp and rode up the Marquis Road (Rte. 669). The troopers captured a scouting party of the 7th Michigan Cavalry about a mile north of town and then continued north toward Clayton's Store. At daybreak they encountered the 7th Michigan's pickets arrayed on the opposite bank of Nunn's Creek, to your left.

The Virginians attacked, firing the first shots of the Battle of Trevilian Station, and skirmished for about 45 minutes in what a member of the 4th Virginia Cavalry described as "a considerable fight." Union Gen. George A. Custer, who was camped a short distance to the north, heard the crash of gunfire and ordered the 1st Michigan to reinforce the 7th. The 1st Michigan rode past this spot and skirmished with the Virginians until the Confederates withdrew back to Louisa Court House. By 8:45 A.M., Custer's entire Michigan

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Brigade and Pennington's Battery of horse artillery were in motion, headed down Nunn's Creek Road to its junction with the Gordonsville Road west of Louisa Court House.

Photo Captions:

Union Gen. George Custer
Courtesy Library of Congress

Confederate Gen. Williams Wickham
Public domain

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 11, 1864.

Location. 38° 2.566′ N, 78° 0.3′ W. Marker is in Louisa, Virginia, in Louisa County. It is on Ellisville Drive (County Route 669), on the left when traveling north. Located at stop two on the driving tour of Trevilian Station Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 845 Ellisville Drive, Louisa VA 23093, 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

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 11, 2026

2. First Contact Marker

Context view. The marker occupies an island in front of Chiles Enterprises and Navarre's Auto Service. Care when determining where to pull off should be taken to avoid impacting these businesses.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oakland Cemetery (approx. one mile away); Decisive Confederate Victory (approx. one mile away); Battle of Trevilians Memorial (approx. one mile away); Louisa Court House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Second Louisa County Courthouse Threshold (approx. 1.2 miles away); Patrick Henry's Home (approx. 1.2 miles away); Confederate Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); John Mercer Langston Birthplace (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisa.

Other markers no longer nearby. First Contact (has been replaced with this marker); a different marker also named Louisa Court House (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. Ellisville Drive was formerly the Marquis Road described in the marker. The Nunn's Creek Road described in the marker no longer exists.

Related marker. Click here for another

Direction of Wickhams' Approach image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 11, 2026

3. Direction of Wickhams' Approach

The Confederates that encountered Custer's Men came up this road, towards the photographer. The low point in the road is where Nunn's Creek runs under it. This is the ground where the first shots were exchanged. View from the marker.

marker that is related to this marker. The linked marker preceded this one in the same location.

Also see . . .
1. American Battlefield Trust - Trevilian Station. An authoritative source for information on the battle and battlefield preservation. (Submitted on August 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

2. Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation. The TSBF has worked to preserve core areas of the Trevilian Station Battlefield, including the C.G. Trevilian House, which is open for tours seasonally, and a replica of the Netherland Tavern where an annual dinner is hosted. The website includes information about the battle, their efforts, and the Trevilian Station Driving Tour, as well as how to find information about hiking and horseback trails through the battlefield. (Submitted on August 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

3. Battle of Trevilian Station Virtual Tour by Markers. A set markers that document the Battle of Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864. The order of appearance is generally aligned to the Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation driving tour, with accommodations

Marquis Road (Ellisville Drive) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 11, 2026

4. Marquis Road (Ellisville Drive)

This view looks north from the marker. Custer's men controlled this ground on 11 June 1864 when the Confederates engaged them from across Nunn's Creek to the south.

made for convenience both in the town of Louisa at the beginning of the tour, and on the eastbound side of Route 33 headed back towards the cemetery. Because the C.G. Trevilian House at the 'modern' station does not have its own marker, reviewing this database for accompanying information when reading about the railroad tracks there is recommended for added interpretive value. (Submitted on August 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.