Today, 150 years ago on 25 June 1864, the Battle of Staunton River Bridge took place in south central Virginia. 5500 Union cavalry engaged a well fortified bridge defense just south of Roanoke Station VA. The defensive position was held by less than 900 men, the majority being local militia and "old men and boys". Less than 300 of the defenders were regular Confederate infantry. Southern defenders held an important position over the Staunton River protecting a critical link in the rail line between Danville and Richmond.
Union and Confederate artillery dueled for just over an hour from 3:20pm until about 4:30 as Union cavalry dismounted and took position along an elevated railway embankment to attempt to reach and fire the bridge. They never made it. After four hours of combat and multiple assaults they pulled back. That evening the entire Wilson-Kautz expedition pulled out and headed back towards Petersburg VA where they left a week earlier. They would arrive on 1 July dogged the entire time and in constant danger of being trapped.
At the end of the raid 1400 Union soldiers had become casualties, nearly 1/3rd of the force that began the raid. 81 men were KIA, 261 WIA, and 1103 captured/missing in action. Confederate casualties are listed as 410 KIA/WIA for the duration of the raid. Property and rail damage inflicted by the raiders was extensive. Confederate rail engineers were to claim the damage inflicted by this raid was some of the worst of the entire war.
This brief photographic overview will highlight the Wilson-Kautz Raid from it's start on 21 June through the initial assaults on the railway to the Battle of Nottoway and on to the focus of the raid, the Battle of Staunton River Bridge. The raid continued from 26 June until 1 July and more engagements took place including a fierce action at Ream's Station but this report will not focus on that aspect at this time. All of the photos shown below were taken by me, and nearly all of them were taken on the 150th Anniversary of the events they are highlighting. The exception being the photos of Staunton River Bridge itself (occurring right now 150 years ago) which I took earlier this spring.
In honor of this 150th anniversary today (and that of the Battle of Little Bighorn also 25 June 1876) I am flying a US Cavalry guidon on my front porch.
What is the background of this raid?
"The Wilson–Kautz Raid was a cavalry operation in south central Virginia in late June 1864, during the American Civil War. Occurring early in the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, the raid was conducted by Union cavalry under Brigadier Generals James H. Wilson and August Kautz, who were ordered to cut railroads between Lynchburg, Virginia, and the vital Confederate rail supply center at Petersburg. While the raid had the intended effect of disrupting Confederate rail communications for several weeks, the raiding force lost much of its artillery, all of its supply train, and almost a third of the original force, mostly to Confederate capture."
Though Wilson lost a significant portion of his force and he was unable to successfully destroy the Staunton River bridge he felt the raid was a success. Judging by the amount of damage done to Confederate rail infrastructure one has to believe the raid was at least partly successful on that aspect alone. The South cloud ill afford to make extensive repairs to their rail infrastructure at this stage of the war. Every Union casualty was unfortunate and tragic, but the Union could easily replace men and horses, the South could not do the same for miles and miles of destroyed railway.
The key strategic targets of the raid were the rail yards at Burkeville, VA and the rail bridge over the Staunton River near Roanoke Station, VA.
Who took part in the Wilson-Kautz Raid and what was their route?
The Wilson-Kautz raid consisted of the following units:
BG James Wilson, Expedition Commander
Third Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, BG Wilson
First Brigade, BG McIntosh
-1st Conn Cav Reg
-2nd NY Cav Reg
-5th NY Cav Reg
-2nd OH Cav Reg
Second Cav Brigade, COL Chapman
-1st VT Cav Reg
-1st NH Cav Reg
-3rd IN Cav Reg
-8th NY Cav Reg
-22nd NY Cav Reg
Second Cavalry Division, Army of the James, BG Kautz
First Cav Brigade, COL West
-3rd NY Cav Reg
-5th PA Cav Reg
Second Cav Brigade, COL Spear
1st DC Cav Reg
11th PA Cav Reg
Artillery:
Battery C-E, 4th US
Battery K, 1st US
Battery B, 1st US
1x Battery MT Howitzers
The overall route of the Wilson-Kautz Raid is depicted nicely in this overview map of the region as it existed in 1864.
The Wilson-Kautz Raid left 21 June 1864 from the grounds of the Mt Zion Church near the Blackwater Swamp in Prince George, just outside of Petersburg. The photos below show the area today where the the majority of the units were camped at the time they mounted up and left for the raid. The grounds and some outbuildings of the Mt Zion Church still remain although the name and denomination has changed.
This field below would have been overflowing with Union Cavalry in late June of 1864.
One of the first targets of the Wilson-Kautz raid was Ford's Station Depot and pull off, shown on the map above. When the raiders arrived there they proceeded to capture and destroy numerous Confederate trains and railcars. They also burned all the rail buildings and tore up track for miles in each direction.
This image below is a drawing of the actual action at Ford's Station.
And this photo below is the same area today.
These images below show the entire Ford's Station area.
Upon reaching the area of Nottoway Courthouse Wilson sent Kautz and his forces ahead directly to Burkeville to destroy the rail junction located there, while Wilson and his remaining units would more methodically destroy the rail lines from Nottoway to Burkeville. on 23 June 1864 Confederate forces under the command of General Fritzhugh Lee caught up with Wilson and launched an attack. The ensuing Battle of Nottoway lasting 9 hours resulted.
Union Col. George Chapman's Brigade unexpectedly encounters Confederate Gen. James Dearing's Brigade near this railroad cut (shown below). The Confederates dismount and attack, forcing the Federals into a defensive position in the cut. Additional forces, including artillery, arrive and the fighting see-saws as both sides charge and countercharge. The heaviest fighting is on the left where the 62nd Georgia Cavalry forms the Confederate line. Union troops (8th New York and 1st Vermont) drive back the North Carolina companies of the Dearing Brigade and momentarily capture McGregor's guns. Moments later, Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade (1st, 2nd and 5th North Carolina) arrives, dismounts and recaptures the guns, forcing the Federals back into the railroad cut. Fighting continues, but the battle becomes a stalemate.
This below is the railroad cut as it appears today where this charge and countercharge took place. This was the scene of fierce fighting.
About 3 a.m., 24 June 24 Wilson withdraws from the field to reunite his division with that of Kautz near Meherrin, VA. The Confederates claim victory, but the Union force will continue its mission to disrupt and destroy the Confederate railroads. Casualties, including killed, wounded and missing:
Confederate between 60 and 100, Union about 75.
While Wilson is fighting at Nottoway, Kautz is busy destroying the rail junction at Burkeville.
"When General Kautz,s command arrived at Burkeville, the destruction of the railroad began. The scene presented at Burkeville and Keysville, after dark set in, was demon-like; the burning track visible for miles, the moving figures of men carrying fuel to feed the flames, the iron rails twisted by heat into strange attitudes, were sights never to be forgotten. The men worked with spirit and cheerfully, notwithstanding their great fatigue after marching all day, and getting little sleep when
night came, the work lasted far into the night and the usual hour of starting was 2 or 3 a.m., so that the command might be well on the road by daylight. The Second Brigade destroyed about five miles of track on the Lynchburg road above the junction, went to bivouac at midnight, and was aroused at 4 a.m. to finish the destruction of the junction, which was done in an hour." Trooper, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry
"Several vacant stores at Burkeville were fitted with sick and wounded Confederate soldiers, and a great number were lying on cots under the shade of trees. The local physician in charge of these unfortunates appeared to be taxed beyond his resources. The condition of the sick and wounded was deplorable, some were lying unattended on the floor; no screens to the doors and windows; the flies were in swarms about those unable to help themselves. Such is war! The men did all in their power to alleviate the condition of their enemies, but it was little they could do; when the morning came, several of the poor fellows were dead." Trooper, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry
This below is the Burkeville Junction today.
This wartime drawing shown below was taken in Burkeville while Kautz was destroying the railway.
And this following is a modern view taken 150 years after the above drawing in as close as the same angle as I could manage.
This amazing period drawing below depicts the actions of the raiders in fantastic detail.
For a much larger image of this drawing, click here.
After Wilson left Nottoway and Kautz moved on from Burkeviile, both forces linked up at Meherrin Station on the afternoon of 24 June.
"About five o'clock we reached Meherrin's Station…on the Danville Railroad. Here in both directions could be seen the desolating effects of war. The Depot was burnt to the ground, the water tank was still standing but its supporting posts were slowly consuming. The road bed was wrapt in smoke as far as the eye could reach…and the few inhabitants visible were dejected and despairing, and although now cringing, their dislike toward us could [not] be entirely hid." Quartermaster Sgt. Roger Hannaford, 2d Ohio Cavalry
Looking north and south at Meherrin Station at the location where Union soldiers would have laid waste to the existing Confederate rail facilities at the time of the raid.
The next day, 25 June 1864, the entire Union expedition would make its way south to attempt to destroy the bridge over the Staunton River.
For an overview of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge here are various maps that depict the general topography of the battlefield and the stages of the engagement. I will do my best to orient my photos below according to these maps.
The bridge was defended by 296 Confederate reservists under the command of Captain Benjamin L. Farinholt, who had been warned on June 23 that Union cavalry forces were approaching his position. Heeding this warning, Farinholt dispatched couriers to the nearby areas of Halifax, Charlotte, and Mecklenburg in order to recruit additional forces, and on the morning of the battle, 642 reinforcements arrived, of whom 150 were regular soldiers and the rest volunteer fighters.
Realizing that he would be under the surveillance of Union scouts, Farinholt ordered a train to run continually along the line from his position to a station further south in order to create the impression that he was receiving continual reinforcements. The illusion was further strengthened by Mrs. Nancy Mcphail, Mulberry Hill plantation owner's wife, who in addition to hosting Union wounded during the battle, informed the Union forces that up to 10,000 Confederate forces awaited them at the bridge. In reality, there were only 938 men.
As well as these 938 men, Farinholt commanded two earthwork sites on the southern bank of the river, and he positioned his 6 artillery pieces accordingly, with four in the fortress on the Eastern side of the rail line, and two on the western side. He also had constructed a network of concealed rifle trenches between the earthwork defenses and the bridge itself.
At 3:45 p.m., according to reports by Farinholt, the Union forces arrived on the northern bank of the river "within a mile of my main redoubt." However, Farinholt's opening salvo fell short. Kautz dismounted with his cavalry opposite the bridge, and advanced from both the east and the west.
Colonel Robert M. West, who commanded the Union forces attacking from the western side of the rail line, attempted to quickly capture the bridge and hold it for sufficient time to set fire to it, but his attack was repulsed. Meanwhile, the Union forces reached and occupied a drainage ditch situated 150 yards (140 m) from the bridge, from which they organized four unsuccessful charges, all of which were repulsed by fire from Farinholt's concealed trench systems, which led to heavy Union casualties.
Around sunset, Rooney Lee arrived on the field with the Confederate cavalry forces that had been pursuing the Union raiders. Lee attacked the Union forces in the rear, and Wilson was forced to retire by midnight.
The following morning, Farinholt advanced with skirmishers onto the vacated Union positions, taking 8 prisoners and burying 42 Union dead. Casualties on the Union side amounted to 42 killed, 44 wounded, and 30 missing or captured; Confederate losses were 10 killed and 24 wounded.
Starting from the Confederate side of the Staunton River and looking north, the images below show the bridge the raid was targeting. The original Staunton River Railroad Bridge was over 600 feet long and 30 feet high. It was a covered bridge with well constructed weathered board sides and a tin roof. The rails were 50 feet above the flowing river below, where the water reached a depth of 10-15 feet. No photos of the Staunton River Bridge have been found. The current bridge, built in 1902, makes use of the original stone supports and has been elevated approximately 4 feet higher than the original bridge and roadbed were in 1864. The bridge support columns are original and were present during the battle.
The images below continues to look north, now from across the river. From this position at the top of the embankment and to both sides left and right Confederate defenders built a U shaped emplacement to protect their bridgehead. On the eastern side of their defenses were civilian defenders and Co D of 1st VA Reserve, while on the western side were the CSA regulars and the Halifax Homeguard.
This image below is the view south back across the bridge towards the Confederate lines.
This view below from ground level looks east towards the northern end of the bridge. Confederate defenders would have been swarming this area at the time of the battle. On this side of the embankment were the civilian defenders and Co D of 1st VA Reserve. Other than the rail bed having been raised and the new trestle, this area has changed very little since the actual battle. Standing here was a very moving experience.
The first view below looks northwest from the embankment towards the open field over which the 3rd NY and 5th PA regiments assaulted on the eastern side of the embankment.
The following views all look more north and show how well preserved the entire area is. The open field is clearly shown as is the long rail embankment. The embankment reaches level ground at Roanoke Station where the hills meet the line of trees along the railway. Nothing has here has really changed. The field is still a field, the embankment still an embankment. The ditch from where the regiments made their assault is still present (see following photos), and the hills in the distance where Union artillery opened the battle are all still the same. Pretty amazing in this day when most battlefields are obscured or destroyed entirely.
Relevant to this view:
Captain James A. Hoyt and the 1st South Carolina Palmetto Sharp Shooters had been rushed by railroad to reinforce those Confederates already at the bridge. "The whole earth seemed to be alive with horses and riders."
"It was not very long until the enemy began to appear upon the hills. Their artillery was soon unlimbered, and only a few moments elapsed until shells were bursting all around us…"
"My orders were for every man to keep on the ground behind the breastworks, which were only two or three feet high, and when the first line of the enemy had crossed the ditch in our front, the command would be given to fire…. This ditch was not more than seventy five yards in our front, and when the men rose with the rebel yell and poured a volley into the ranks of the enemy there was great consternation and a hasty retreat."
Below, looking to the northeast on the opposite side of the embankment we now see the field from where the 1st DC and 11th PA regiments made their attack. These regiments had worked their way to the thin line of trees running across the center of this image. Multiple attacks were repulsed from this position. The second image is of the same area but from further back on the embankment and closer to the Confederate position.
Relevant to these views above:
"Old gentlemen of 70 winters took their place in the trenches with lads of 15."
-H.E. Coleman
Many Confederates felt that Coleman's suggestion to build the earthworks on the north side of the river saved the bridge and won the battle for them. The breastworks were dug to a depth of about four feet "with old canteens, a spade or two, sticks and whatever [the men] could lay their hands on." The fresh earth was thrown down the river bank so as to be invisible to the enemy advancing on the bridge.
The defenders in these trenches were under orders to remain hidden until the Federal troops were well within firing range. The bravery of the old men and young boys and the element of surprise were to a large degree responsible for the Confederate victory at the bridge.
"The shells striking the tin roof of the bridge made a fearful racket, scaring some of the small boys into outbursts of weeping." --J.T. Eason, 17th Miss.
"While the infantry or dismounted cavalry outnumber(ed) them over ten to one…these little untrained boys and old gray-headed farmers…arose from their position of partial safety and protection and with a firm and steady step marched into the very jaws of death itself…" William B. Hurt, 1st Virginia Reserves
Looking east this view below shows the ditch from which the 1st DC and 11th PA made their assaults.
It was from the view above that SGT Nelson W Ward of the 11th PA was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle. The account of this action is as follows.
A small force, part of which was the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, was sent, June 25, 1864, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stetzel, to destroy the railroad bridge across the Staunton River, half a mile south of Burk's Junction, Va. The enemy was strongly entrenched on the south side of the river and on both sides of the railway bridge. The approach to the bridge and the Confederates' position was flat meadow land, destitute of cover for the advancing force, excepting perhaps a slight depression caused by the dry bed of a branch of the river. The Pennsylvania Cavalry was ordered to advance on the bridge and entrenchments, led by carbineers selected from each company. A member of Troop M being suddenly stricken ill, the captain called for a volunteer to take the sick man's place, and Sergeant Nelson W. Ward, though he himself had been on sick report for a day or two, volunteered and took his place in the ranks. The story is continued by Sergeant Ward, as follows: "Our troops moved forward in an irregular line, and, with the right resting on a small trestle between the railway station and the bridge, took a position in the dry bed of the stream. The fury of the fight was soon on, firing at short range from both artillery and infantry sending death into our ranks with terrific swiftness. With a salute to my captain, I asked: ‘Isn't the colonel going to form the men in line for a charge on the bridge?' at which Captain Gerard Reynolds replied, giving the order: ‘Forward, men, forward!' They were the brave officer's last words, for he fell dead, shot as he uttered the last word of his command. "Just then, too, from under the trestle, we heard the colonel ordering the captain to move his men to the right, toward the railroad. Thus, with our company commander dead, our regimental commander skulking, it was not singular that the men wavered under the shower of shot and-shell. One of the men asked me: ‘What are we to do?' I replied: ‘Follow me, boys,' and, swinging my carbine over my head, I led in a charge against the bridge until every man but one had been shot down." "It was an awful slaughter and a hopeless effort. With but two of us left, we started back for the dry bed depression. On the way I found the dead body of my captain, and stopping, I knelt down to secure his money, watch, revolver and spur. Although repeatedly urged by comrades across the railway and further back on the line, I remained fully twenty minutes at his side, endeavoring to procure assistance to carry the corpse off the field, but I waited and begged in vain, and finally had to retreat to the main force without the body of our brave and beloved captain." During this truly heroic effort, a bullet struck the heel of Sergeant Ward's boot, and another bullet passed through the skirt of his blouse.
The following view is the ditch on the other side of the embankment looking west from which the 3rd NY and 5th PA assaulted.
This view below is of Roanoke Station at the far end of the battlefield. From this junction Union forces assembled and moved south to assault the bridge. Following the road leading to the north from this view the route travels over hilly ground towards Mulberry Plantation which was the location of the Union Headquarters during the battle.
Aside from the U shaped emplacement the Confederates built at the north end of the bridge there was an earth fort built at the southern end of the bridge. My photos did not capture the fort very well but it still exists today and is in considerably good shape. The six Confederate artillery pieces were located here. During the battle the entire position was devoid of trees and there was a clear line of site almost to the hills at Roanoke Station.
Captain Benjamin L. Farinholt had been in charge of the Staunton River Bridge post for forty days prior to the battle preparing its defenses and drilling his forces. Captain E.N. Fitzhugh was assigned to build earthworks here on the south – or Halifax County – side of the bridge. Colonel Stanhope Flournoy and his cavalry of about 50 men were sent downriver, to the nearest ford, and Captain Paul Edmonds – with about as many men – was sent to defend the first ford above the bridge, to guard against any Union crossings.
By mid-afternoon on June 25, all was ready and the men in position for battle. The wait for the Federal soldiers to appear seemed to last forever, and both experienced and inexperienced men alike grew nervous. Veterans entertained the boys with jokes and old war stories. Tradition holds that Patrick Henry's granddaughter, Mrs. William Clark, played a French harp to calm the fears of the men.
The Confederates had one "superior piece of cannon, three in a half completed fort, across the river on the left side, and one in an earthwork on the right, which treated (us) to horrifying discharges of grape which seemed as though they would take the breath out of my body as they flew like a flight of noisy birds close over us."
The earthworks were improved considerably after the battle, because the Confederates expected additional assaults on the bridge. Farinholt asked the citizens of Charlotte and Halifax Counties to send two hundred of their slaves to complete the fortifications here at the earthworks. The current earthworks are a result of these improvements made after the battle.
In April of 1865 when word was received that Lee had surrendered the cannon at the fort were destroyed or hidden. One of the cannon that took part in the battle was dumped into a nearby well. In the early 1900s this cannon was recovered and placed in a place of honor at the South Boston, VA VFW where it remains to this day. South Boston, VA is about 15 miles from the battlefield.
completes his initial Union force in 1:72nd scale.
