Battle of Namozine Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Namozine Church |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| George Armstrong Custer | Fitzhugh Lee | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,000 | 700 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 95 killed and wounded | unknown killed, 15 known wounded 350 captured |
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The Battle of Namozine Church was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 3, 1865, in Virginia. This battle was important because it was the first time Union and Confederate armies clashed after the Confederates left Petersburg, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia.
The Union forces were led by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan. The Confederate forces were part of General Robert E. Lee's army. The main fighters were cavalry (soldiers on horseback) led by Union Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer and Confederate Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. This battle was the start of the Union Army's chase that ended with Lee's surrender just six days later.
During this battle, Captain Tom Custer, General Custer's brother, showed great bravery. He later received one of his two Medals of Honor for his actions here.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Long Fight at Petersburg
For almost a year, the Union Army, led by Ulysses S. Grant, had been trying to capture Petersburg and Richmond. This was a long, tough fight with many trenches. Grant's plan was to wear down the Confederate army. He also wanted to cut off their supplies.
By early 1865, the Confederate army was running out of soldiers and supplies. General Lee knew he had to move his army soon. He hoped to get food and join another Confederate army in North Carolina.
Petersburg Falls
In late March 1865, Grant's Union Army made a big push. They attacked the Confederate defenses around Petersburg. On April 1, 1865, the Union won a major victory at the Battle of Five Forks. This battle broke through the Confederate lines.
The next day, April 2, the Union Army attacked Petersburg directly. They cut off the last railroad line that supplied the city. This meant General Lee's army had to leave Petersburg and Richmond.
Confederate Retreat Begins
On the night of April 2–3, Lee's army left Petersburg and Richmond. They marched west, hoping to reach Danville, Virginia. There, they planned to get supplies and meet up with another Confederate army.
Most of Lee's soldiers had only one day's food. They expected to find more food waiting for them at Amelia Court House, Virginia. Confederate soldiers fought hard to slow down the Union Army. This gave Lee's main force a head start.
Some Confederate troops, including cavalry and infantry, marched south of the Appomattox River on the Namozine Road. Union cavalry, led by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, quickly followed them. The Union soldiers kept up the pressure, skirmishing with the Confederates almost constantly.
The Battle at Namozine Church
On April 3, 1865, Union cavalry caught up with the Confederate rear guard. This was near Namozine Creek. Union forces, led by Colonel William Wells from Custer's division, attacked. The Confederates had dismounted (gotten off their horses) and dug in.
Custer brought up cannons to fire at them. He also sent some soldiers to sneak around the Confederates. When the Confederates saw this, they quickly left their positions.
Custer's soldiers then chased them toward Namozine Church, about 5 miles away. The fight continued as a running battle along the road.
Fighting at the Church
Near Namozine Church, Confederate cavalry, led by Brig. Gen. Rufus Barringer, tried to fight back. They attacked the Union soldiers. After a sharp fight, the Union cavalry pushed them back.
Around 9:00 a.m., Captain Tom Custer, General Custer's younger brother, bravely charged forward. He rode his horse over a small barricade. He captured three Confederate officers and eleven soldiers. He also captured the battle flag of the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry. For this brave act, Tom Custer later received a Medal of Honor.
Barringer's Confederates had fought long enough. This allowed Confederate infantry, led by Maj. Gen. Bushrod Johnson, to pass by Namozine Church. Johnson's troops accidentally took a wrong turn. They had to stop when they reached a flooded bridge over Deep Creek.
Even though the Union cavalry pushed back the Confederate cavalry, the North Carolina soldiers had held the road long enough. This allowed Johnson's infantry to return and take the correct path. When Johnson's infantry approached, Custer's Union forces had to pull back. This let the Confederates cross Deep Creek.
After this, Fitzhugh Lee and "Rooney" Lee (Robert E. Lee's son) split their cavalry units. They continued their retreat. Custer chased them but stopped for the night when he met strong Confederate infantry.
After the Battle
Colonel Wells's Union brigade lost 95 soldiers killed or wounded. The total Confederate losses are not fully known. However, Custer's men captured 350 prisoners, 100 horses, and one cannon. Johnson reported 15 wounded from his division. After the battle, Namozine Church was used as a hospital. It later became Maj. Gen. Sheridan's temporary headquarters.
What Happened Next
On April 4, 1865, the armies continued to skirmish. Union forces blocked Lee's escape routes. Lee had hoped to find food at Amelia Court House. But when he arrived, the supply train only had weapons and ammunition, not food.
Lee's hungry soldiers had to keep marching. They hoped to find food at Farmville, Virginia.
On April 6, 1865, a huge disaster struck Lee's army. About one-fifth of his remaining soldiers were cut off and captured at the Battle of Sailor's Creek. Around 8,000 men were lost, including several generals.
After a few more small battles over the next three days, Lee's army was surrounded. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. This ended the main fighting of the Civil War.
The Battlefield Today
The area where the battle happened still looks much like it did then. Namozine Presbyterian Church still stands today. It is cared for by the Amelia County Historical Society.
