First Battle of Reams Station, Richmond-Petersburg Campaign Siege, Virginia, History, Confederate
Union Army Forces, General James H. Wilson, August Kautz, William Mahone, Fitzhugh Lee, Summary, Pictures
First Battle of Reams Station Battlefield
of Reams Station Pictures
Other names: First Reams' Station. Battle of First Reams' Station
Campaign: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
Date: June 29, 1864
Location: Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Result:
Confederate victory
Commanders:
James H. Wilson, August Kautz [US] William Mahone, Fitzhugh
Lee [CS]
Combatants:
Third Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac [US]; 2nd, 5th,
6th, 15th VA; 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, FL; 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th AL Infantries; 3rd, 4th and 1st VA Cavalry;
and Pegram's Artillery [CS]
First Battle of Ream's Station was during the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
of the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Major General William Mahone and Brigadier General Fitzhugh Lee defeated
Union forces raiding Confederate railways.
In June 1864, a Union division under the command of Brig. Gen. August V.
Kautz moved into southern Virginia where they began destroying sections of the Weldon Railroad as part of the Richmond-Petersburg
Campaign. On June 29 the division reached Ream’s Station south of Petersburg on the Weldon Railroad, which was thought
to be held by Union infantry. Instead, Kautz found the road barred by Mahone’s Confederate infantry division. Wilson’s
division, fighting against elements of William H.F. “Rooney” Lee’s cavalry, joined Kautz’s near Ream’s
Station, where they were virtually surrounded.
Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, fighting off an attack at Sappony Church by Confederate
cavalry forces under General William H. F. "Rooney" Lee, joined Kautz near Ream’s Station, where they were virtually
surrounded.
Around noon, Mahone led Confederate infantry against the Union front while
cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee attacked the Union left flank. The fierce assault split the Union forces. Wilson and Kautz were
forced to withdraw quickly, burning their supply wagons and abandoning their artillery.
Separated by the Confederate attacks, Wilson and his men cut their way through
and retreated southwest on the Stage Road to cross the Nottoway River. Meanwhile, Kautz headed south and east cross-country,
reaching Federal lines at Petersburg about dark. Wilson continued east to the Blackwater River before turning north, eventually
reaching Union lines at Light House Point on July 2. The Wilson-Kautz raid tore up more than 60 miles of track, temporarily
disrupting rail traffic into Petersburg, but at a great cost in men and mounts.
Source: Linedecker, Clifford L., ed. Civil War, A-Z: The Complete Handbook
of America's Bloodiest Conflict. New York: Ballentine Books, 2002.
Advance to:
Recommended Reading: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign
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