Image ID: AIMZ

Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book Of The War. Vol. 2, No. 97. Appomattox Station, Virginia. April, 1865. This Station is on the railroad between Petersburg and Lynchburg; distant from the former place ninety-six miles, and from Appomattox Court-House three miles. The place itself is very insignificant, but received some notoriety from the fact that the last train conveying provisions to General Lee’s army, during his retreat, was captured there by the United States forces. The train had arrived very early in the morning, (April 8, 1865,) and the supplies were being transferred to wagons and ambulances, by a detail of about four thousand men, many of them unarmed, when suddenly our cavalry charged upon them, having reached the spot by a by-road leading from the Red House. The rebel officers made strenuous efforts to force their men to resist the attack, but, after a few shots, they fled in confusion, and scattered through the adjoining woods. This was the last effort made by Lee to obtain food for his half-famished army, and with its failure, he evidently gave up all hope. Without halting a moment, the cavalry pushed on, driving the enemy (who had reached the depot about the same hour) in the direction of Appomattox Court-House, capturing many prisoners, twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons.

Abdill, Civil War Railroads, p184: This photograph… shows the South Side Railroad track at Appomattox Station, about 96 miles west of Petersburg and about 3 miles from Appomattox Courthouse. The car wheels in the ditch mark the remains of Lee’s lost supply trains. The rough track and worn rails are typical of the condition of railroads throughout the South after the War Between the States.