Keysville

Keysville. Foraging and Destruction. In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee the use of the South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R.R., Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sent Gen. James H. Wilson and Gen. August V. Kautz south of Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock. The combined Wilson-Kautz column reached here by nightfall of June 24 from Meherrin Station. Wilson made his headquarters nearby in the old Keysville Hotel. The Federals burned the harness store, tracks and associated railroad support structures that stood here. On the morning of June 25, a detail of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry destroyed Johnson’s Saw Mill, another private mill, and a company mill. The Masonic building and a smokehouse also were burned. Several large foraging parties left from here to confiscate food and seize horses for replacement mounts., “My company was sent out on a cross road to do picket duty. We made our headquarters at the house of Mr. Foster, whose wife, although she had been born in Ohio, appeared to be a very ardent sympathizer with the Confederates.” , Trooper Wilbur F. Lunt, 1st Maine Cavalry, “This mill and another private Mill, with the company mill, three in all, were the only resources the enemy would have from whence to get timber and repair the road. They were all completely destroyed.” , Col. Robert West, 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, “Nor is to be denied a good deal of foraging was done.... [W]hatever the smokehouse or spring house, or the field or garden or stall or pasture of a rebel contained, which was capable of being readily converted into good food was remorselessly appropriated without waiting for either commissary or quartermaster process. These acts of the boys were never denied; and yet there could never be discovered any signs of penitence on account of them.” , Trooper Edward P. Tobie, 1st Maine Cavalry