Battle of Rice's Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Rice's Station |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 Confederate States (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| John Gibbon | James Longstreet | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 7,500 | 6,800 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 66 | unknown probably few | ||||||
The Battle of Rice's Station was a small fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 6, 1865, in Virginia. This battle took place on the same day as the much larger Battle of Sailor's Creek. It was part of the final push of the war, known as the Appomattox Campaign.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Rice's Station?
This battle was a minor clash between Union and Confederate forces. It happened as the Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, was trying to escape. They were moving west from Amelia Springs, Virginia. The goal was to reach supplies and keep fighting.
Who Was Involved?
On the Confederate side, Lieutenant General James Longstreet led his soldiers. He was a very important general for the Confederacy. The Union forces were part of the Army of the James. They were led by Major General Edward Ord and his XXIV Corps, commanded by Major General John Gibbon.
The Armies Arrive
In the early morning of April 6, General Longstreet's troops reached Rice's Station, Virginia. This was a stop on the South Side Railroad. Longstreet's group was the first part of Lee's army to get there. They waited for the rest of the army to catch up. However, most of the other Confederate soldiers were delayed by the big fight at Sailor's Creek.
Meanwhile, Union General Ord's troops had already taken control of Burkeville Junction. This was a key railroad crossing southeast of Rice's Station.
Setting Up Defenses
When Longstreet found out the Union troops were nearby, he quickly ordered his men to prepare. They dug trenches and set up defenses along the railroad tracks. This was to protect themselves if the Union soldiers attacked.
The Skirmish Begins
On the morning of April 6, Union Generals Ord and Gibbon were warned that Lee's army was on the move. They carefully advanced their troops along the railroad. Soon, they found Longstreet's soldiers digging in near Rice's Station.
Gibbon's skirmishers, who are soldiers sent ahead to scout and start small fights, slowly got ready to attack. There was a minor clash between them and the Confederates who were dug into their positions.
Why Did the Fighting Stop?
As it started to get dark, General Ord decided not to launch a full attack. He wasn't sure how many Confederate soldiers were there. He chose to wait for more Union troops, led by Generals Philip Sheridan and George Meade, to arrive from behind.
What Happened Next?
The Union forces had 66 soldiers wounded or killed during this small fight. The exact number of Confederate casualties is not known, but it was likely very few.
After dark, General Lee ordered Longstreet to pull his troops back. The Confederates had suffered a big defeat at Sailor's Creek. Longstreet's men left Rice's Station during the night. They headed towards Farmville, Virginia, where food and supplies were waiting for them.
