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A look at Two Battles of April 3'65

Here are two battles that have been passed over.

Bryce

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The April 3rd battle of Namozine Church is well known, but the early morning fight at Namozine Creek and the fight later in the afternoon at Sweathouse Creek are not. Here are a few thoughts about these battles.

Here is a brief account of Namozine Creek:

At 6 a.m. Lt. Gen. R.H. Anderson ordered Johnson to march his division toward Namozine Church where the road forked. Anderson then sent Johnson up the right hand road. After Johnson crossed a creek Anderson ordered him to retrace his steps to the church and instead take the road left hand road to cross Namozine Creek at Brown’s Bridge. (Johnson’s Report OR Vol. 40, Part 1 p. 1289) Lee’s division under Munford and Rooney Lee’s cavalry followed as a rear guard. (Fitz Lee’s report OR Vol. 40, Part 1 p. 1300) Roberts’ Brigade brought up the rear.

Company D [1st Vermont cavalry] was deployed as skirmishers and sent forward, and the Eighth New York advanced to the creek. Custer, who as usual was near the head of the column, came forward with Colonel "Wells to examine the position and they at once took measures to force the crossing. A detachment of the First Yermont under Captain Hazeiton was dismounted and sent down the stream for a short distance to a shallower place where they forded the creek and attacked the opposing line on the flank, while a piece of artillery was brought up in front and opened with grape. The enemy soon gave way, and, crossing the stream, Wells pursued them as rapidly as possible. (Benedict, Vermont in the Civil War Volume 2, p. 681)

Lee had left only one regiment to guard the creek, the 9th Virginia Cavalry. Hazelton attacked the escort guarding the led horses of the 9th and routed them. The panic spread to parts of Munford’s and Roberts’ commands. Fortunately Roberts and most of his men turned back and took up a new line. They were joined by parts of Munford’s two brigades. Their mere presence deterred the enemy for an hour which gave the scattered cavalry corps a chance to rally and reform. The balance of Wells’ brigade charged across the creek and Roberts and his three contingents retreat before them. (The New Annals of the War pp. 537-[538)

Here is an account of Sweathouse Creek:

After the battle of Namozine Church, the Confederates divided their forces. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division under Munford moved on the Cousins or Namozine road which led to Amelia Court House. Rooney Lee's division moved on the Greeen Road which led to the Bevill's Bridge road and were en route to Bevill's Bridge. Custer sent Capehart's 3rd Brigade in pursuit of Rooney Lee's forces and Wells' 1st Brigade after Munford. Custer ordered Pennington to remain at the crossroads after sending one of his regiments with each of the columns.

Meanwhile Bushrod Johnson's infantry division had been marching up Green's road toward Deep Creek but found the creek impassible. Johnson ordered the infantry to return to Namozine road where they met Munford's division. They followed in rear of Muford's column as he continued his march.

Near the small hamlet of Mannboro Johnson made a stand with the brigades of Wise, Moody, and Wallace. Since Wells was unable to budge the Confederates, Custer sent the 3rd New Jersey Cavalry and the 2nd New York Cavalry from Pennington's Brigade to assist them. These brigades attacked the Confederates in the last action of the day and lost 4 killed and 24 wounded. Custer was unable to budge the Confederates. It was here that Pickett's division rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia. (Pennington's report in OR Vol. 46, Part 1, p. 1136 and Bushrod Johnson's report OR Vol 46 Pat 1, p. 1289. Chris Calkins, Appomattox Campaign, p. 72-73)

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