Appomattox in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Custer's Third Brigade
Battle of Appomattox Station
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, June 26, 2015
1. Custer's Third Brigade Marker
Inscription.
Custer's Third Brigade. Battle of Appomattox Station. Union Col. Henry Capehart commanded Gen. George A. Custer’s Third Cavalry Brigade on Custer’s left flank. On April 8, 1865, Capehart had only the 1st New York (Lincoln) an 1st and 2nd West Virginia regiments on hand, the 3rd West Virginia had been detached after the Battles of Sailor’s Creek to guard Confederate prisoners. Capehart arrived at Appomattox Station at about 5 P.M., soon after the Confederate supply trains were captured there. At dusk, Custer led the men of the 1st New York on an advance into a thicket to locate the Confederate right flank. Lt. Joseph Walter was wounded in the action and died eleven days later. Finding the woods impassible, Custer shouted, “Boys, try to get back the best way you can. We cannot get through here.” Sgt. Anthony Fiala captured four Confederates during the withdrawal., Pvt. Joseph Sutton, 2nd West Virginia, wrote of Custer’s subsequent moonlight charge on the Confederate artillery, “A battery … hurled grape and canister down the road in such a manner that a little column of the regiment, … was nearly half unhorsed. The flashes of the enemy’s guns, as reflected against the sky, resembled a furious storm of lightning. But the battery was captured.” Maj. Shesh Howe, commanding the 1st West Virginia, was wounded in the last charge. Transported to nearby Liberty Baptist Church, which was used as a field hospital, Howe soon died and was buried there. After the war, his body was reinterred at Poplar Grove Cemetery near Petersburg., (captions) , (bottom left) Wounding of Lt. Joseph Walter, from James H. Stevenson. Boats and Saddles (1879) , (top center) Sgt. Anthony Fiala, from William H. Beach,The First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry (1902) , (bottom right) Howe grave , (Courtesy Appomattox Court House National Hotorical Park , (top right) Maj. Shesh Howe Courtesy Richard A. Wolfe
Union Col. Henry Capehart commanded Gen. George A. Custer’s Third Cavalry Brigade on Custer’s left flank. On April 8, 1865, Capehart had only the 1st New York (Lincoln) an 1st and 2nd West Virginia regiments on hand, the 3rd West Virginia had been detached after the Battles of Sailor’s Creek to guard Confederate prisoners. Capehart arrived at Appomattox Station at about 5 P.M., soon after the Confederate supply trains were captured there. At dusk, Custer led the men of the 1st New York on an advance into a thicket to locate the Confederate right flank. Lt. Joseph Walter was wounded in the action and died eleven days later. Finding the woods impassible, Custer shouted, “Boys, try to get back the best way you can. We cannot get through here.” Sgt. Anthony Fiala captured four Confederates during the withdrawal.
Pvt. Joseph Sutton, 2nd West Virginia, wrote of Custer’s subsequent moonlight charge on the Confederate artillery, “A battery … hurled grape and canister down the road in such a manner that a little column of the regiment, … was nearly half unhorsed. The flashes of the enemy’s guns, as reflected against the sky, resembled a furious storm of lightning. But the battery was captured.” Maj. Shesh Howe, commanding the 1st West Virginia, was wounded in the last charge. Transported
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to nearby Liberty Baptist Church, which was used as a field hospital, Howe soon died and was buried there. After the war, his body was reinterred at Poplar Grove Cemetery near Petersburg.
(captions)
(bottom left) Wounding of Lt. Joseph Walter, from James H. Stevenson. Boats and Saddles (1879)
(top center) Sgt. Anthony Fiala, from William H. Beach,The First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry (1902)
(bottom right) Howe grave — (Courtesy Appomattox Court House National Hotorical Park
(top right) Maj. Shesh Howe Courtesy Richard A. Wolfe
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 month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 37° 21.912′ N, 78° 49.629′ W. Marker is in Appomattox, Virginia, in Appomattox County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Jamerson Lane (Virginia Route 1014) and Jones Street (Virginia Route 1012). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Battle of Appomattox Station Confederate Position
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 16, 2017
5. Welcome Sign To The Battlefield
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 855 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 25, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.