White Flint Bill
Sergeant
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2017
- Location
- Southern Virginia
Outside of our little community the Battle of Staunton River Bridge is little-remembered these days. But it was vitally important at the time and is a fascinating story of a community rallying together in a time of crisis.
The destruction of the railroad bridge over the Staunton River was one of the principal objectives of the Wilson-Kautz raid in June 1864. Food and supplies for Richmond and Petersburg flowed across this bridge. If it was destroyed, the Confederate lifeline would be severed.
The bridge was defended by 296 Confederate reserves, commanded by Captain Benjamin Farinholt, who had previously served in the 53rd Virginia. Wounded and captured at Gettsyburg, he had escaped from prison and made his way back to Richmond, where he was assigned command of the garrison at the bridge.
As the Federal Cavalry raced toward the bridge, destroying tracks, depots and supplies along the way, Farinhold sent out a desperate plea for reinforcements. Colonel Robert Enoch Withers sent the Danville prison guards (temporarily replacing them with reserves from North Carolina). Another 100 or so Confederate soldiers who were home wounded or on furlough answered the call. The rest of his reinforcements, about 500, were local citizens--boys too young and men too old for regular service, who arrived with whatever firearms they had. For this reason the battle is sometimes called "The Battle of Old Men and Young Boys." It was long remembered as "the day everybody went to the bridge to fight."
When the Federal cavalry arrived, over 5,000 strong, Farinholt had a force of 938 to defend the bridge, most of whom were local old men and boys without any combat experience.
Farinholt had artillery on the high ground on the south side of the river, but he realized that unless he placed troops north of the bridge, with their backs to the river, he would not be able to prevent the Federals from burning the bridge. Col. Henry Coleman was home in Halifax County recovering from a severe head wound he had received at the Battle of Spotsylvania. When Farinholt's urgent call for reinforcements went out, Col. Coleman came to the battlefield, traveling in a carriage with his head wrapped in pillows. On his arrival, Coleman recognized that the defenses north of the river were inadequate and Farinholt authorized him to take charge of improving them.
The defenders dug in hastily and awaited the Federals' arrival.
On the afternoon of June 25, Wilson and Kautz arrived and began shelling the bridge and the Confederate defenses. In the ensuing battle the Federals charged the Confederate position four times, and were each time driven back. Finally, with Confederate cavalry rapidly advancing on their rear, the Federals had to give up the attack.
The bridge had been saved and the local men and boys were welcomed home as heroes.
In his autobiography Colonel Withers wrote, "Taking everything into consideration, I regard the fight at Staunton River Bridge as one of the most brilliant affairs of the war."
In the battle the Federals suffered 116 total casualties (42 killed, 44 wounded, 30 missing/captured) and the Confederates suffered 34 (10 killed, 24 wounded).
I visited the battlefield three days ago. It was a cold day and I had the place to myself. Below are some photos for those interested.
These shots of the Staunton River are from the current bridge, which is on the site of the original bridge.
Approaching the bridge from the north. The Confederate defenders were dug in in a semi-circle surrounding the bridgehead.
Here are the fields across which the Federal assaults came.
Below is the bridge, seen from the south. Confederate artillery was placed to the right and left of the railroad and the works are still visible. Although it is at the same location, this is not the original bridge. The original bridge was covered, and (ironically) was burned by retreating Confederates on April 12, 1865.
Finally, here are interpretive markers from the battlefield.
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