Chronology of Wartime Service

April 3-5, 1865

During late March, General Lee had issued the following marching orders to Gordon’s Corps (including Evan's Brigade) in the event of an evaluation of Petersburg: “General Gordon’s Corps will cross at Pocahontas and Railroad bridges, his troops taking the Hickory Road, following General Longstreet to Bevils Bridge, and his wagons taking the Woodpecker Road to Old Colville, endeavoring not to interfere with Mahone’s troops from Chesterfield Courthouse, who will take the same road.” (Source: Burke Davis, pp. 72-73). Amelia Court House was identified as the point of concentration for the army. The ultimate goal was to move the Army of Northern Virginia by way of Danville to join Gen. Johnston's army for combined operations against Gen. Sherman's Union army in North Carolina.

Gordon began his withdrawal under the cover of darkness late on the evening of April 2, putting his Corps through Petersburg along the Hickory Road, which joined Longstreet's route approximately ten miles from Petersburg, thus putting Gordon's Corps in the rear of the retreating Confederate army in position to serve as its rear guard.

Left on picket duty as his regiment pulled out of line, Private I. G. Bradwell (Co. I, 31st GA) recalled:

That evening, April 2d, as night spread her mantle over the world and the full moon rose in the heavens, the regiment marched out, leaving me and two other pickets there to watch. This was done, I suppose by each regiment of the brigade. Our orders were not to shoot, but only to watch. We were told that an officer would relieve us at twelve o'clock that night...the hour appointed for our relief had arrived and I had become restless. No relief was in sight and not likely to come, so I decided to see Haynes, on the left, and advise with him what course to pursue. When I approached him, I found him silently watching in the direction of the enemy. He had not seen any officer and could give me no advice. I suggested that we go to the right and see Williams, but we found no officer there. Though the youngest of the three, I suggested that we leave our post and follow the army, which we did. And it was very fortunate for us and our comrades, whom we overtook sometime the next day." (Source: Under a Southern Cross, p. 231. See also Burke Davis, pp. 85-86.)

Gordon's Corps (including the Georgia Brigade) marched all day on April 3rd in an effort to cover the 35 miles to Amelia Court House as rapidly as possible.

On the afternoon of April 4, Evans' Division (including the Georgia Brigade) was stopped approximately five miles from Amelia Court House and formed in line of battle to cover the arrival of General Ewell's column from Richmond. Once Ewell's troops were within the confederate lines, Evan's Brigade resumed its march toward Amelia Court House, arriving early in the morning of April 5.

General Lee had anticipated that supplies would be moved by rail from Richmond to meet his army at Amelia Court House. Unfortunately, only arms and munitions had arrived and the exhausted soldiers were very short on food. Lee held the army at Amelia Court House on April 4 while attempting to requisition food from the surrounding countryside. The delay allowed fast moving Union cavalry under Gen. Phil Sheridan to move around the flank of Lee's army. With few supplies to show for their efforts, the confederates resumed their march on the morning of April 5 toward Burkeville, where the Southside and Richmond-Danville Railroads crossed. Gordon's Corps continued at the rear of the column, with Evans' Division (including the Georgia Brigade) serving as rear guard.

Approximately 5 miles from Amelia Court House, Gen. Longstreet found his advance blocked by Sheridan's Corps of Union cavalry. After reconnoitering the Sheridan's strength, Lee shifted his line of march to the Southside Railroad, and ordered supplies and food to be delivered by rail from Lynchburg to a rendevous at Farmville.

Sources:

Burke Davis, To Appomattox: Nine April Days, 1865, (New York, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1959)(reprinted June 1967).

Pharris Johnson, Under the Southern Cross: Soldier Life With Gordon Bradwell in the Army of Northern Virginia (Mercer Univ. Press, 1999)

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Last Updated: Jan. 21, 2001