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

Action at Tye River

By Laura Troy, July 24, 2008

1. Action at Tye River Marker

Inscription. On 11 June 1864, about 800 yards east, the Botetourt Battery prevented the destruction of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge across the Tye River. This bridge was an important part of the Confederate railroad network for the movement of troops and supplies throughout Virginia. Confederate pickets of the Botetourt Battery, deployed as infantry and commanded by Capt. Henry C. Douthat, kept the Federal cavalry from destroying the bridge. This enabled Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early and the 2d Corps of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to reach Lynchburg by train, to prevent its capture by Union Maj. Gen. David Hunter.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number R-61.)

Location. 37° 39.286′ N, 78° 57.677′ W. Marker is in Amherst, Virginia, in Amherst County. Marker is on North Amherst Highway (U.S. 29) south of Ty River Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Amherst VA 24521, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Scale House (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Rivers (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Reverend Robert Rose

By Bill Coughlin, April 26, 2007

2. Action at Tye River Marker

(approx. 3½ miles away); Grave of Patrick Henry’s Mother (approx. 3.6 miles away); Cabellsville (approx. 3.7 miles away); Hurricane Camille (approx. 4.6 miles away); American Cyanamid (approx. 4.9 miles away); The Virginia Blue Ridge Railway (approx. 5 miles away).

Additional comments.
1. Old Marker
This marker replaces an older R-61 with the same title, which stood on Highway 29, south of the Tye River Bridge. The old marker read, About 800 yards east, on June 11, 1864, the Botetourt Battery, C.S.A., prevented Federal Raiders from burning the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Bridge, thus enabling General Jubal Early to reach Lynchburg in time to save it from capture by General Hunter.

— Submitted August 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Categories. • War, US Civil •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on August 14, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,003 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 14, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 12, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.