Civil War Today

April 7, 1865

Lee knew his goose was cooked after crossing the Appomattox River at Farmville and he heard firing up ahead at Cumberland Church where Maj. Gen. Mahone had stopped after failing to destroy the High Bridge. As much as Lee just wanted to get away, he had no choice but to stand and fight. Worse, Lee now had to cover 35 miles through the hills to get to Appomattox Station while Grant only had to cover 30 mile to get to the same point.

Fighting carried on from 9 a.m. until nightfall. While much of the battle took place around the church another fight broke out to the southwest about 5 p.m. when the Union attacked Lee’s supply train. The Union attackers were driven off and Mahone held on at the church. Lee received a message from Grant at Cumberland Church about 9:30 p.m. suggesting that he could stop the bloodshed. Longstreet told Lee that it was not time to surrender, yet. Lee’s army got back on the road about 11 p.m. It was the last night march for the Army of Virginia.

The battle at Cumberland Church cost the Union 571 casualties, by this point the Confederates were no longer counting and really didn’t know how many soldiers were still marching.