The Civil War Battle of High Bridge took place on April 6 and 7, 1865 outside Farmville, Virginia. The fighting was part of Lee’s retreat to Appomattox after the fall of Richmond and Petersburg. The High Bridge carried the tracks of the South Side Railroad across the Appomattox River Valley. It was one of the largest railroad bridges in the world at the time. On the first day of the battle Union forces unsuccessfully tried to destroy the bridge to block the escape of Confederate forces to the west. On the second day Confederate forces unsuccessfully tried to prevent Union forces from crossing the river.

Cross the High Bridge today

Historical markers near the High Bridge:

Cavalry Battle at High Bridge – Lee’s Retreat
Cavalry Battle at High Bridge – Union Opportunity Lost wayside marker
High Bridge – Critical Span wayside marker
The High Bridge wayside marker
High Bridge F73 Virginia historical marker 

The Railroad and the High Bridge

The Southside Railroad ran 132 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia to Petersburg, Virginia and on to the port of City Point. Finished in 1854, it was a critical supply source for the Confederacy during the Civil War, particularly during the last year of the war when Grant’s Union forces slowly closed in on Richmond and Petersburg. For the last winter of the war the Southside Railroad was the sole remaining rail supply route into Petersburg.

The railroad crossed the Appomattox River valley six miles downstream of Farmville on the High Bridge. The 2,400 foot bridge crossed the valley on 21 wood spans supported by 20 tall pillars. The pillars consisted of almost four million bricks. A single rail line and a pedestrian walkway crossed the High Bridge, while a wagon bridge crossed the river far below. At its highest point the bridge was 160 feet over the river. Its Chief Engineer, C.O. Sanford, reported to the railroad’s stockholders, “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 Battle

On April 6, 1865 Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army was in retreat from the collapse of the defenses around Petersburg and Richmond. it was closely pursed by Grant’s much larger Union forces. Lee’s men needed to cross the Appomattox River to its northern bank to continue their withdrawal. They hoped to destroy the bridges behind them to delay their pursuers and buy time to escape. A Union raiding force of about 800 cavalry and infantry set out to destroy the High Bridge, which could have trapped a large part of Lee’s army. But Confederate Major General Thomas Rosser’s cavalry intercepted them.

The resulting fighting saw the entire Union force killed or captured. Union Brevet Brigadier General Theodore Read and Confederate Colonel Reuben B. Boston were killed and Union Colonel Francis Washburn and Confederate Acting Brigadier General James Dearing were mortally wounded. The bridge was unharmed, and Lee’s men were able to make good their escape.

On April 7 the tables were turned. Confederate infantry tried to burn the bridges to slow or halt the Union pursuit. Part of the High Bridge was burned. But Union infantry charged onto the burning bridges and saved most of the High Bridge and all of the wagon bridge. The relentless Union pursuit continued. Lee’s retreat would end just 25 miles west with his surrender at Appomattox Court House.

After the War

The High Bridge was repaired and remained in service until 1914, when heavier engines and cars led to its replacement by the Norfolk & Western Railroad, the successor to the Southside Railroad. The newer steel trestle is right next to the original bridge, whose brick pillars were left intact. In the early 1900’s a new rail line with easier grades and curves was built several miles south and parallel to the existing line. A great deal of traffic was diverted to the new line, but the original line continued to operate as a backup for many years. It was finally abandoned. Over 30 miles of the route was donated in 2006 to the State of Virginia to become High Bridge Trail State Park. The bridge was renovated for a wide hiking/biking/horse trail with covered benches in the middle and an outstanding view of the Appomattox valley.

Location

The High Bridge crosses the Appomattox River valley six miles downstream (northeast) of Farmville. It can be reached by the High Bridge hiking/biking/horse trail from either side. From the west side take the River Road (Route 600) northeast from the north side of Farmville about three miles. A parking area on the north side of River Road is administered by Virginia state parks and requires a modest parking fee. From there a level trail of about a mile leads southeast to the bridge. (Be careful – the trail goes both ways and I spoke with a hiker who went a couple of miles in the wrong direction before she turned around and made it to the bridge). There are even benches along the way and at the bridge to take a break.