Virginia, Louisa County,

June 11–12, 1864

While the Army of the Potomac prepared to cross the James River to assault Petersburg, US General Grant sent most of US General Sheridan’s cavalry to raid the Virginia Central Railroad northwest of Richmond and distract CS General Lee. If possible, Sheridan was to link up at Charlottesville with US Major General David Hunter, who was marching up the Shenandoah Valley, and threaten Richmond from the west.

Sheridan set out from the Cold Harbor lines on June 7 and headed westward on the north side of the North Anna River with the cavalry divisions of US Generals Torbert and Gregg. Lee sent the 5,000 cavalrymen from the divisions of CS Major Generals Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee to oppose them, with Hampton in command. By June 10 Hampton was at Trevilian Station and Lee at Louisa Court House.

The Confederates attacked Sheridan the next morning at Clayton’s Store and pushed him back. Meanwhile US General Custer had infiltrated his brigade into the gap between the two Confederate divisions and captured Hampton’s wagon train at Trevilian Station. Hampton broke off the fight to send CS Brigadier General Thomas L. Rosser’s Laurel Brigade to attack Custer. With Confederates on three sides, Custer was in grave danger. Torbert’s division finally broke through to him in a dramatic rescue. The Union forces camped at Trevilian Station that night.

Hampton established a strong new line with clear fields of fire along the railroad west of the station. Lee’s Division joined his left at noon on June 12. Sheridan spent the morning tearing up five miles of railroad track, then rode west to attack Hampton’s lines. The Confederates repulsed seven attacks in severe fighting. Lee finally attacked Sheridan’s right flank and drove him back, nearly shattering the Union line. Sheridan broke off the fight at 10:00 p.m. He headed back to the Army of the Potomac the next day, abandoning the raid and any plan to fight his way through to Charlottesville and link up with Hunter.

Hampton had become an outstanding cavalry commander, particularly in understanding, as did Forrest and Sheridan, the use of mounted infantry: horses providing mobility for infantrymen.

Estimated Casualties: 1,007 US, 1,071 CS