Charlotte Court House
Foraging Parties: “People complimented us”
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. After destroying railroad facilities and equipment at Burkeville Junction, Meherrin Station, and Keysville, several parties of Federal foragers arrived here about 11 A.M. on June 25. The fears of local citizens were somewhat eased when the detachments burned no buildings.
“A party of 72 reached Charlotte Court House about 11 o’clock [A.M.] Saturday, and remained three or four hours, and employed themselves in stealing horses, destroying furniture, breaking open iron safes and robbing citizens of money, watches and jewelry. They did not burn the Court House, clerk’s office or any other building.” - Confederate News Report, The Richmond Examiner, July 4, 1864
“Went to Charlotte Court House. Detachment of Second New York broke open stores, released two civil prisoners and did many things out of the way. Our boys did not indulge in one thing disgraceful to my knowledge. People complimented us very highly. Seemed very thankful that we did not rob or burn.” - Trooper Luman Harris Tenney, 2nd Ohio Cavalry
(sidebar)
Patrick Henry’s last public debate took place in the courthouse square in 1799, when he and John Randolph of Roanoke contended for seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. The present Charlotte County courthouse was built by John Percival in 1822-23 from plans by Thomas Jefferson for the 1822 Buckingham County courthouse, the first temple-form court building in Virginia. Quintessentially Virginian with its red brick and white classical trim, the Charlotte County courthouse inspired several other court structures in the southern Piedmont and is still in regular use.
Marker is at the intersection of David Bruce Avenue (Virginia Route 40) and Legrande Avenue (Virginia Route 47), on the right when traveling east on David Bruce Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
