White Flint Bill
Sergeant
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2017
- Location
- Southern Virginia
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 length and height together, this is, perhaps the largest bridge in the world."
The bridge was destined to play a dramatic role in the closing days of the Civil War.
In his desperate attempt to escape the pursuing Federals, and to provision his starving army, General Lee planned to cross the bridge to the north side of the river then destroy it behind him, thus giving his men some breathing room and a chance to find food.
Aware of the importance of the bridge, the Federals sent two regiments of infantry and three companies of cavalry (about 900 men in all) to destroy it and thus deny the Confederates their escape route. After learning of the threat, about 1,200 Confederate cavalry were sent to intercept the Federal force and protect the bridge. The Federals arrived first, on the morning of April 6, 1865 and began preparing to burn the bridge. After an all-night march the Confederates arrived not long afterwards. In the frantic, often hand-to-hand combat that followed, the entire federal force was captured (including the brass band they'd brought along) and the bridge was saved. Confederate colonels James Dearing and Rueben Boston (commanding officer of the 5th Virginia cavalry) were killed in the action, as were Federal colonels Horace Washburn and Theodore Read.
The following day the retreating Confederate army made its way over the bridge. But in the confusion of the retreat General Billy Mahone delayed giving the order to fire the bridge. Federal troops arrived at the bridge early on the morning of April 7. By then the High Bridge was in flames and three trestles soon collapsed. But the fire intended to destroy the underlying wagon bridge had been more difficult to start and had not yet consumed to the bridge. The 19th Maine Infantry under Gen. Francis Barlow, charged and, under fire, were able to extinguish the fire using their canteens and blankets. The Federal army would use this bridge to cross the river, denying the Confederates their escape. On April 9, General Lee surrendered the army.
Today the bridge is part of the recently-opened High Bridge Trail state park. It's a beautiful place to spend a day.
There are miles of hiking/biking trails, including one across the bridge
A view from the bridge
This illustrates the scale of the construction. The brick trestles are from the 1850s. The steel ones are from construction in the 1910's.
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 length and height together, this is, perhaps the largest bridge in the world."
The bridge was destined to play a dramatic role in the closing days of the Civil War.
In his desperate attempt to escape the pursuing Federals, and to provision his starving army, General Lee planned to cross the bridge to the north side of the river then destroy it behind him, thus giving his men some breathing room and a chance to find food.
Aware of the importance of the bridge, the Federals sent two regiments of infantry and three companies of cavalry (about 900 men in all) to destroy it and thus deny the Confederates their escape route. After learning of the threat, about 1,200 Confederate cavalry were sent to intercept the Federal force and protect the bridge. The Federals arrived first, on the morning of April 6, 1865 and began preparing to burn the bridge. After an all-night march the Confederates arrived not long afterwards. In the frantic, often hand-to-hand combat that followed, the entire federal force was captured (including the brass band they'd brought along) and the bridge was saved. Confederate colonels James Dearing and Rueben Boston (commanding officer of the 5th Virginia cavalry) were killed in the action, as were Federal colonels Horace Washburn and Theodore Read.
The following day the retreating Confederate army made its way over the bridge. But in the confusion of the retreat General Billy Mahone delayed giving the order to fire the bridge. Federal troops arrived at the bridge early on the morning of April 7. By then the High Bridge was in flames and three trestles soon collapsed. But the fire intended to destroy the underlying wagon bridge had been more difficult to start and had not yet consumed to the bridge. The 19th Maine Infantry under Gen. Francis Barlow, charged and, under fire, were able to extinguish the fire using their canteens and blankets. The Federal army would use this bridge to cross the river, denying the Confederates their escape. On April 9, General Lee surrendered the army.
Today the bridge is part of the recently-opened High Bridge Trail state park. It's a beautiful place to spend a day.
There are miles of hiking/biking trails, including one across the bridge
A view from the bridge
This illustrates the scale of the construction. The brick trestles are from the 1850s. The steel ones are from construction in the 1910's.
Forum Host
Bringing the