The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-04-07

Courthouse; the Sixth Corps was at Farm
vile; the Second Corps was north of the
Appomattox on the road from Farmville
to Lynchburg Grant ordered Meade to
send the Fifth Corps on the Lynchburg
road following the Twenty-fourth Corps at
600 M, April g. The Second and Sixth
Corps were to follow the Confederates
north of the river.
Sheridan's Raid
General Charles Griffins Fifth Corps
reached Prince Edward Courthouse at
7:30 pm, April T. Sheridan had already
passed through the village According to
dispatch filed at Keysville the following
day. upon information from soldier c.
J. Angel informed Lewis Harvie, presi-
dent of the Richmond and Danville Rail-
road, that the Yankees stripped Dickin-
son Of everything and left guard at his
house to kill him if they caught him."
This was Judge Asa Dupuy Dickinson, a
member of the State Senate at the time
His home was Springfield the house has
since burned. The soldier also told Angel
that Grant was closely following the Con-
federates: he was in error, though, in re-
gard to the route Lee took stating that
Grants infantry coming up the railroad
caught Lee at Prospect and that he had
left the army near Pamplin. A large
smoke in the direction of Farmville led
Angel to believe that the High Bridge was
being burned.
Not only Dickinson was stripped of
everything but many another along the
entire line of Lees retreat within several
miles of the passing armies. note from
Whittier to DeTrebiand states that di-
vision commander sent out a foraging
party in the morning of April under a
good and judicious officer to obtain sup
plies from the country, cattle and bread
stuff A proper amount of food was to be
left with each family. Only such supplies
were ordered taken as could be used and
were necessary. Such orders seem to have
prevailed although the soldiers did not
always abide by them. Some Federals
SiloHtu tiiSillSSlfCo StUlIellltl VI lne nigh
est order, protecting life and property of
the inhabitants, placing guards at homes
to protect against molestation and pillag-
ing. showing every courtesy possible.
These should be remembered with graft
tude; unfortunately. the harm done by
those without principle, by officers who
were indifferent to or ignorant of what
their men did, Blu some men who felt no
restraining hand and were not men enough
to restrain themselves: much of the dam
age was done by stragglers. who at
tached themselves 10 the army-at a dis
tance-for the definite purpose OF stealing.
Before the Federals reached Fannville,
Lee, Oh the morning of April I, warned
the people Of Farmvllle that there was
danger OF a battle in the town: therefore
the women and children. and the aged
should eVacuate the town The populace
left their homes that day The evacuees
did not 90 far. however. but took refuge
in the railroad cut west of the town: this
was well out of the town limits then. for
ST. George Street was the western border
OF the town: about the site of the present
passenger station was the Confederate
General Hospital. which could accomlno-
date about 1900 to 15OO soldiers. They
stayed IN this location, which they re-
garded as the safest near the town, until
the firing ceased in the afternoon. When
they reached their homes, some found the
dwellings pillaged or being ransacked.
Guards, however, could be secured from