Fateful Decision: Wilson Turns North

— Wilson-Kautz Raid —

In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee the use of the South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R.R., Gen. Ulysses S Grant sent Gen. James H. Wilson and Gen. August V. Kautz south of Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock. Racing the pursuing Confederate cavalry for the safety of the Union lines at Petersburg after accomplishing most of his mission, Wilson paused near here on June 28 to consider two options. He could either ride past Jarratt's Station to the south, which was the longer route, or take the more direct route by Stony Creek and Ream's Station, which Wilson understood before the raid began would be in Federal hands on his return. Wilson chose the shorter route to Ream's Station. Federal advance met Confederate pickets skirmishing across the Double Bridges but pushed on to the Stony Creek Depot.

"Before reaching Nottoway River General Wilson consulted with me which course to pursue. He had learned from Negroes that [Federal] General Meade had occupied Ream's Station. I gave my opinion that he could go either way by not delaying. I thought that he could pass at either point by continuous marching. He finally decided to move on to Ream's Station as General Meade had promised to be on the look out for his return. For some reason, however, during the afternoon I found the column had left the Boydton Road and was tending toward Stony Creek Station." - Gen. August V. Kautz

"Here we charged and drove them across the bridges, giving them no time to destroy them." - Lt. Col. George Purrington, 2nd Ohio Cavalry

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