Location of Battle in relation to Richmond |
Beaver Dam Station
10 May, 1864
(Prelude to Yellow Tavern)
Location of Battle in relation to Richmond |
On May 8th,1864 during a heated exchange, General Sheridan quipped to General Meade that he could whip J.E.B. Stuart if given the chance. When Grant learned of Sheridan's boast he decided to let him try. On the 9th of May, 12,000 blue clad troopers left Spotsylvania Court House riding south toward Richmond. That evening they razed Beaver Dam Station on the Virginia Central Railroad.
The current depot was built in 1866 |
"On the evening of the 9th I reached the-North Anna without serious opposition from the enemy. During that night I destroyed the depot at Beaver Dam, 3 large trains of cars, and 100 cars, 2 fine locomotives, 200,000 pounds of bacon and other stores, amounting in all to 1,500,000 of rebel rations; and also the telegraph wire and railroad track for a distance of about 10 miles, embracing several culverts; recaptured 378 of our men, including 2 colonels, 1 major, and several other officers."
P.H.SHERIDAN,
Major-General, Commanding.
from the Official Records of the Civil War, Series I--Volume XXXVI/1
On May 10th the 2nd Virginia Cavalry skirmished with the 5th US Cavalry on Beaver Dam Road. -
" Just as we reached the regiment with these rations, we heard Col. Munford's voice ring out: "Attention regiment! Form fours! Draw Sabre!" We, who had the rations had no time to distribute them, for the order came, "Forward, Trot! March!" As we reached Beaver Dam Road a comrade rode up to me and said , " Lend me your sabre , you don't have to go into the fight today"; Knowing that as I had the rations, I did not have to go. I soon heard the charge of cavalry coming down the road. All of the boys had their sabres drawn , ready to rush into the fight saying, "I'll go to." I threw the rations over the fence into the bushes . Col. Munford rode down the line and said, "Captain Whitehead, lead your squadron into that charge ." Just then the leader of the Yankees came charging down the road a little ahead of his command. I drew my pistol and fired at him and he went tumbling across the fence into the woods. Our boys had sabres and went at the Yankees, who used carbines. Captain Whitehead's horse was struck in the face and knocked down, so he led the charge right in on foot. about that time my horse was shot and I had to jump off. With balls flying in front and fences afire on both sides of the road, we drove the Yankees back. Companies E and G did all the fighting that day because the road was too narrow for the other companies to come up. The regiment paid dearly for its victory. Many a gallant son of Amherst received wounds and one as high as ever drew a sabre--- John W. Brown, Was killed.
1st Sergeant Robert B.B. Stratton, Company E
Page 115
