High Bridge, VA

[bdtex]

I couldn't let today go by without some mention of High Bridge and I couldn't find a thread specifically about it.

While the Battle of Sailor's Creek was happening on the afternoon of April 6, 1865, the Battle of High Bridge was happening nearby on April 6 and 7, 1865. The April 6 action occurred in the morning and was a successful attempt to hold the bridge open to allow part of Lee's army to cross the bridge over the Appomattox River retreating westward from Richmond and Petersburg. The April 7 action was an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the railroad bridge and lower wagon bridge to keep pursuing Union troops from crossing them and the Appomattox River.

The picture above was taken in June 2022 from the modern bridge which is a popular hiking and biking trail. It is a state park now. The old bridge is long gone but there are sections of the original pilings remaining down below.

High Bridge

The American Battlefield Trust's Battle of High Bridge page contains maps, articles, and photos relating to this important 1865 battle in Virginia.

www.battlefields.org

 

[bdtex]

There is a good short NPS video for those unfamiliar with High Bridge.

 

[bdtex]

Here are a couple of good links with information about the battle and the bridge. Among all the sources I have seen, there are slight discrepancies about the actual numbers of troops engaged there.

High Bridge

The Civil War Battle of High Bridge on April 6 and 7, 1865 near Farmville, Virginia, was part of Lee's retreat to Appomattox.

stonesentinels.com

The Burning of High Bridge

Railroads were the super highways of the 19th century and played a critical role during the final days of the Civil War in Virginia.

www.dcr.virginia.gov

 

[Pollaco]

Whereabouts specifically were Read and Dearing when they mortally wounded each other? Atop,beneath, near, by , close by, next to, etc.? One hears about those two killing each other "at" the battle of High Bridge. But "at" can mean different things to different people.

 

[bdtex]

Whereabouts specifically were Read and Dearing when they mortally wounded each other? Atop,beneath, near, by , close by, next to, etc.? One hears about those two killing each other "at" the battle of High Bridge. But "at" can mean different things to different people.

I need to dig out my Blue & Gray Magazine back issue on Sailor's Creek. It has several pages of information and maps on High Bridge too. Reading that before my trip in June 2022 is what prompted me to squeeze in High Bridge in the itinerary.

 

[Woods-walker]

Great post, an important war site that gets little attention.

 

[bdtex]

One of the things I was unaware of before my research and visit in 2022 was how big the railroad bridge was. At the time it was considered to be the largest bridge in the world. The wagon bridge was probably a remarkable engineering feat in it's own right. The pictures below are from the links posted above.

 

[Marco 1975]

At the episode " bitter April " from James Robertson jr.'s series about the civil war High Bridge is on it. The fight to keep the Bridge for the Confederates was the last victory of the Army of Northern Virginia

 

[Pollaco]

Another angle

 

[bdtex]

The stone pillars are still there. Down below are remnants of the original brick/stone works.

 

[bdtex]

Some of the original earthwork fortifications protecting High Bridge are still there. I wasn't aware of that before my visit. I stumbled on to this one on the walk back to the parking area and restroom facilities. I have since learned that the Camp Paradise Trail goes down to where the remnants of the original brick/stone works are and some plaques I think.

 

[bdtex]

Another angle

View attachment 503896

That is a great picture. Thanks for posting it. I'm not sure I've seen that one before.

 

[Pollaco]

Pictures of your travels really bring the place home. Not necessarily just this sight but all of them. In you many travels do you come across many other young "tourists"? What concerns me is younger people and do they show an interest in historical sights? What is going to be the future for parks,both National and State run. Especially when their budgets are going to be cut because uninterested people would prefer their tax dollars go to some social programs instead of some "old-fogey-boring-history-place"

 

[bdtex]

In you many travels do you come across many other young "tourists"? What concerns me is younger people and do they show an interest in historical sights?

Most of the youth I see are there with school groups or with their parents. I get that. I was in my 50's when I started doing this stuff on my own. My parents took me, my sister and brother on a Texas Revolution tour when I was a kid and I took my son to The Alamo in the early 90's.

 

[Pollaco]

Most of the youth I see are there with school groups or with their parents. I get that. I was in my 50's when I started doing this stuff on my own. My parents took me, my sister and brother on a Texas Revolution tour when I was a kid and I took my son to The Alamo in the early 90's.

I get that part about being taken to such places, so was I. As you yourself can attest to but there comes a time when a generation "starts doing this on their own". Do you think the next generation(s) will?

 

[USS ALASKA]

I couldn't let today go by without some mention of High Bridge and I couldn't find a thread specifically about it.

The High Bridge | Railroads & Steam Locomotives

The High Bridge spans the Appomattox River, just outside of Farmville, Virginia. Completed in 1852, the bridge is 125 feet high and 2529 feet long. C.O. Stanford, chief engineer of the project said, “there have been higher bridges not so long, and longer bridges not so high, but taking the...

civilwartalk.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[bdtex]

The High Bridge | Railroads & Steam Locomotives

The High Bridge spans the Appomattox River, just outside of Farmville, Virginia. Completed in 1852, the bridge is 125 feet high and 2529 feet long. C.O. Stanford, chief engineer of the project said, “there have been higher bridges not so long, and longer bridges not so high, but taking the...

civilwartalk.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

I saw that one but I couldn't find a thread in the Eastern Theater forum specifically about the Battle of High Bridge.

 

[bdtex]

At the episode " bitter April " from James Robertson jr.'s series about the civil war High Bridge is on it. The fight to keep the Bridge for the Confederates was the last victory of the Army of Northern Virginia

Is that available on YouTube?

 

[UCVRelics]

Great photos. At first I thought it was the other high bridge.

 

[Jamieva]

Is that available on YouTube?