The Battle of Rio Hill was a battle in the American Civil War in which the Union raided a Confederate camp in Albemarle County, Virginia. The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government CIA World Factbook Entry for United States House. ... For other meanings of confederate and confederacy, see confederacy (disambiguation) National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Largest... Location in the state of Virginia Formed Seat Charlottesville Area  - Total  - Water 1,881 km² (726 mi²) 9 km² (4 mi²) 0. ...

In the early afternoon of February 26, 1864 Union General George A. Custer and about 1,000 to 3,000 Union soldiers advanced towards Charlottesville. This raid was an attempt by the Union to divert attention on to Charlottesville while an attempt was made to free prisoners of war held in Richmond, Virginia. 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... Charlottesville is an independent city located within the confines of Albemarle County in the state of Virginia. ... Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States of America. ...

Custer's orders were to destroy a railroad bridge across the Rivanna River. Custer's only opposition came from Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's Horse Company and rebel infantrymen stationed in a camp near the Rivanna at Carsbrook. His men raided the camp under fire from Confederate forces commanded by Capt. R. Preston Chew and Captain M.N. Moorman. The Union forces looted the camp and set fire to it. They captured two Confederate soldiers. One of the confederate artillery pieces exploded however, and Custer became confused believing that the explosion was actually the reopening of guns. His men fired into each other and then fled from the camp. The rebel troops regrouped and chased Custer out of Albemarle. James Ewell Brown Stuart (February 6, 1833 – May 12, 1864) was an American soldier from Virginia and a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War. ...

Custer and Philip Sheridan returned to Charlottesville in 1865 and occupied the town from March 3 to March 6 a month before the South surrendered at Appomattox. 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. ... Appomattox is a town located in Appomattox County, Virginia. ...