Near Reams in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of Reams Station
By Craig Swain, November 22, 2008
1. The Battle of Reams Station Marker
The "Afterwards" marker is somewhat weathered.
The Battle of Reams Station. Afterwards. While Robert E. Lee won the Battle of Reams Station, preventing the Federals from destroying more of the Petersburg (& Weldon) Railroad, and keeping much of his supply line intact, the Confederate victory was one in a series of tactical Southern triumphs that were actually strategic Union victories. General U.S. Grant, with more men and more supplies than General Lee, hit first one side of the Confederate line, then the other. Lee was forced to react, sending his already exhausted men scurrying from left to right with each new Union attack. . . The siege of Petersburg lasted until April 1865 when Grant finally cut the last supply line to Petersburg, the South Side Railroad. The Confederates immediately abandoned Petersburg and Richmond. Only a week later, on April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. . This historical marker was erected by Civil War Preservation Trust. It is Near Reams in Dinwiddie County Virginia
While Robert E. Lee won the Battle of Reams Station, preventing the Federals from destroying more of the Petersburg (& Weldon) Railroad, and keeping much of his supply line intact, the Confederate victory was one in a series of tactical Southern triumphs that were actually strategic Union victories. General U.S. Grant, with more men and more supplies than General Lee, hit first one side of the Confederate line, then the other. Lee was forced to react, sending his already exhausted men scurrying from left to right with each new Union attack.
The siege of Petersburg lasted until April 1865 when Grant finally cut the last supply line to Petersburg, the South Side Railroad. The Confederates immediately abandoned Petersburg and Richmond. Only a week later, on April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
Erected by Civil War Preservation Trust.
Location. 37° 5.649′ N, 77° 25.386′ W. Marker is near Reams, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County. Marker
2. Help Preserve Reams Station
Click here for details of CWPT's efforts.
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is at the intersection of Reams Drive (County Route 606) and Halifax Road (County Route 604), on the right when traveling west on Reams Drive. Located in Civil War Preservation Trust's Reams Station Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. North Carolina (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ream's Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Ream's Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Reams Station (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Reams Station (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Petersburg Railroad (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reams.
More about this marker. The background of the marker is a drawing of the Union army marching into Petersburg, with the caption, The Confederates may have won the battle here at Reams Station, but ultimately Robert E. Lee was not able to prevent the Federals from cutting his supply line. After eight more months of siege and Federal attack, Lee was forced to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond. This image from Harper's Weekly shows the Union army marching into Petersburg on April 2, 1865.
1. Reams Station. National Park Service site detailing the phases of the battle. (Submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Reams Station Preservation Efforts. The Civil War Preservation Trust continues their work ensuring the battlefield at Reams Station is preserved. This site offers not only maps and additional information about the battle, but "clean" copies of the markers
By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
Marker in cleaner days.
on site. Look on the right under Slideshows for the Reams Station Interpretive Trail. (Submitted on November 25, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. The Afterwards Wayside
5. CWPT Reams Station Battlefield
The Trust owns parts of the battlefield both north and south of Reams Drive. At present only the section north of the road is interpreted.
6. The Reams Station Battlefield
Looking northwest from the intersection of Halifax Road and Reams Drive. This section of the battlefield includes the traces of Federal earthworks. The works were overrun in the later phases of the battle.
More. Search the internet for The Battle of Reams Station.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,407 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 27, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.