Civil War Today

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Jetersville, VA Updated Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:20 PM Partly Cloudy 79°F High: 100°F Low: 69°F Wind: 0 mph Humidity: 89% Friday 89° / 64° Saturday 90° / 69° Sunday 84° / 72° Monday 85° / 70° MSN Weather Data provided by iMap

This sign is a little misleading, Lee didn’t leave Amelia Court House for Farmville, he left for Burkeville, that’s why he marched to Jetersville, first. Finding Union infantry dug in between himself and Burkeville Lee turned north to Amelia Springs to try and move around the Union. In better days Lee would have been looking to flank the Union position but no longer, at Jetersville he just wanted to find a way on to the South Side Railroad without having to fight a full on battle.

There were probably other roads west, but Lee was now shepherding a thousand wagons and needed the best road possible to keep them moving. This meant he had to turn back north to the road between Richmond and Farmville. Once again, Lee is losing valuable time and Grant is gaining more opportunities to strike at Lee’s exposed army. Sheridan is having a field day; his troops have free range to maneuver and can strike at will. They do not need to overrun the Confederate line at any point; they only need to force them to stop marching and fight. Each time they do this Lee loses more time and more of Grant’s army can be brought up for the up coming fight.

Striking the Richmond/Farmville road at Amelia Springs Lee found himself once again under cavalry attack. More time was lost as his men once again had to break ranks, fall into line of battle and stand off dismounted cavalry. Here the wagons begin to work their mischief, Lee can’t leave the road and he can’t concentrate his forces to hit with any real power without leaving the wagons uncovered. Sheridan’s men can move and hit anywhere so Lee has to leave his men strung out.