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

Lee’s Rear Guard

Final Blow

— Lee’s Retreat —

Lee’s Rear Guard Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

1. Lee’s Rear Guard Marker

Inscription. You are standing where Gen. James Longstreet’s corps entrenched early in the morning of April 9, 1865, to protect the rear of the Army of Northern Virginia. Gen. Robert E. Lee and most of the army bivouacked about four miles south, just short of Appomattox Court House, the county seat. Here, looking down the Confederate picket line, you can see remnants of Longstreet’s earthworks, the last built in the field by the army that had become renowned for its quick and effective construction.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1790.

Location. 37° 25.008′ N, 78° 45.638′ W. Marker is in Vera, Virginia, in Appomattox County. It is on Howe Flood Highway (State Highway 24), on the left when traveling south. Marker is four miles north of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, 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 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Thomas S. Bocock (approx. 0.4 miles away); ANV Headquarters (approx. 2.1 miles away); Lee’s Last Headquarters (approx.

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2.1 miles away); Confederates Trapped (approx. 2.1 miles away); Historic Vegetation (approx. 2.2 miles away); Confederate Field Hospital (approx. 2.2 miles away); Civil War Landscape (approx. 2.2 miles away); Conner House Site (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vera.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Lee's Rear Guard (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The marker features a photo of Gen. James Longstreet on the upper left, and a battle map on the lower left, with the caption Rear guard position of the armies on the morning of April 9. Appomattox Court House is four miles south. The right of the marker has a painting with the caption New Hope Baptist Church with Confederate trenches shown as right. Painting by George L. Frankenstein.

Also see . . .
1. Lee's Retreat to Appomattox. Civil War Traveler guide to the retreat. (Submitted on March 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. Lee's Retreat. Virginia's Retreat guide. (Submitted on March 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Lee’s Rear Guard Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

2. Lee’s Rear Guard Markers

Confederate earthworks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

3. Confederate earthworks

These earthworks were dug by Longstreet's men to protect Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. They were the last ones made in Virginia during the Civil War.

Longstreet's Earthworks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 20, 2025

4. Longstreet's Earthworks

The earthworks mentioned in the marker are quite eroded and difficult to spot. The marker does not face the most obvious surviving fragment. To view them clearly, the visitor must turn around and face the opposite corner of the marker's pull-off parking area, walk approximately 185' due northeast, and the visible fragment runs in a short, straight line from the road off to the visitor's right (east) beyond the fringe of the woods. They are generally imperceptible without stepping into the woods a few feet. This view looks northwest from within the woodline, towards the road. The interior of the earthworks are nearest, with the exterior ditch visible running on the other side of the mounded parapet trace.

Earthworks 3DEP LiDAR Imaging image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer

5. Earthworks 3DEP LiDAR Imaging

The circle on this screenshot from the USGS' 3DEP LiDAR application (public free use) indicates the marker's position. Red arrows point to the end points of the surviving earthworks' distinguishable parapet. The ditch line running south from the right arrow may be part of the defenses as well, but on the ground they do not appear to be related - perhaps the trace of a farm road instead. The discernible line between the red arrows is definitely earthworks. The same cannot be said of any other ground feature in this vicinity.

Lee’s Rear Guard Battle Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

6. Lee’s Rear Guard Battle Map

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,064 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on January 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on March 8, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.