The Battle of Namozine Church was a minor engagement on April 3, 1865, in Amelia County, Virginia during the American Civil War's Appomattox Campaign. April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Amelia County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... The American Civil War (1861 - 1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America – twenty-three mostly northern states of the Union – and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the Union... Eastern Theater operations in 1865 The Appomattox Campaign (March 29 – April 9, 1865) was a series of battles fought in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and the effective end of the American Civil War. ...

As Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia retreated from Richmond, rear guard dismounted cavalry units often paused to block the roads from pursuing Union cavalry. At a ford on Namozine Creek, Union Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer threatened the rear of Lee's column. Custer was able to capture many of the Confederates and clear the road in the early morning. Still, the Confederate cavalry had bought enough time for Bushrod Johnson's infantry division to pass nearby Namozine Church around 8:00 a.m. Unfortunately, Johnson took a wrong turn at a fork in the road and had to halt when his command reached a bridge over Deep Creek that was underwater from recent flooding. Robert Edward Lee, as a U.S. Army Colonel before the war Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career army officer and the most successful general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February, 1861, to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven southern states seceded from the United States (with four more to follow). ... The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War in the eastern theater. ... This article is about the city in Virginia. ... Italian cavalry officers practice their horsemanship in 1904 outside Rome. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... George Armstrong Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876) was an American cavalry commander in the Civil War and the Indian Wars who is best remembered for his defeat and death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn against a coalition of Native American tribes, led by... Bushrod Johnson Bushrod Rust Johnson (October 7, 1817 – September 12, 1880) was a teacher, university chancellor, and Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

A brigade of North Carolina cavalry from Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee's division tried to secure the Namozine Church road intersection until Johnson could return and take the correct fork. About noon, one of Custer's brigades under Col. William Wells attacked the still deploying Confederate cavalry. Custer's younger brother, Thomas, spurred his horse over a hastily thrown up barricade and captured 3 Confederate officers and 11 enlisted men, as well as the battle flag of the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry. For his actions, the younger Custer would eventually be awarded a Medal of Honor, one of two he would earn within a week. State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley (D) Senators Elizabeth Dole (R) Richard Burr (R) Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th)  - Land 126,256 km²  - Water 13,227 km² (9. ... Fitzhugh Lee in the Civil War Fitzhugh Lee (November 19, 1835 – April 18, 1905), nephew of Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate cavalry general in the American Civil War, governor of Virginia, diplomat, and U.S. Army general in the Spanish-American War. ... Capt. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

Another Confederate regiment unsuccessfully counterattacked, losing many prisoners in an ill-fated attempt to drive off the Federals, who flanked them. Confederate Brig. Gen. Rufus Barringer was captured nearby, as was FitzLee's adjutant general, Maj. J. D. Ferguson. General Johnson approached with his division and finally forced Custer to retire, opening the way for the Confederate infantry to march to Amelia Court House, where they expected to receive much needed supplies and rations. An adjutant general is the chief administrative officer to a military general. ...

Colonel Wells lost 95 Federal cavalrymen killed and wounded in the engagement. Lee's cavalry losses are not certain, but at least 350 were captured. Johnson reported 15 wounded from his division. After the battle, Namozine Church served as a field hospital and later as temporary headquarters for cavalry general Phillip Sheridan. The wartime structure still stands. Philip Sheridan Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888), a military man and one of the great generals in the American Civil War. ...

Order of Battle

Union forces

• Elements of Custer's 3rd Cavalry Division
  • 2nd Brigade - Col. William Wells
    • 8th New York Cavalry Regiment - Maj. James Bliss
    • 15th New York Cavalry Regiment - Col. John J. Coppinger
    • 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment - Lt. Col. Josiah Hall

Confederate Forces

• W. H. F. Lee's Cavalry Division - Maj. Gen. William Henry Fitzhugh Lee
  • Barringer's Cavalry Brigade - Brig. Gen. Rufus Barringer
    • 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment
    • 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment
    • 5th North Carolina Cavalry Regiment

• Johnson's Infantry Division - Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson
  • Moody's Brigage
  • Wallace's Brigade
  • Wise's Brigade

References

• U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 70 volumes in 4 series. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1880-1901. Series 1, Volume 46, Part 1, page 1289.
• National Park Service battle summary