Appomattox River

Geobox River
name = Appomattox River
native_name =
other_name =

---

image_size = 300
image_caption = The Appomattox River at Matoaca, Virginia
country = United States
country1 =
state = Virginia
state1 =
region =
district =
district1 =
city = Petersburg
city1 = Tri-cities
length_imperial = 120
length_note = gnis|1501617]
watershed_imperial = 1344
watershed_note = [http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-va-05-1/pdf/pages_278-389.pdf James River Basin] , from [http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-va-05-1/ Water Resources Data Virginia Water Year 2005] , USGS.]
discharge_location = Matoaca
discharge_imperial = 1366
discharge_max_imperial = 39400
discharge_min_imperial = 18
discharge_note =
discharge1_location =
discharge1_imperial =
source_name =
source_location =
source_district =
source_region =
source_state =
source_country =
source_lat_d = 37
source_lat_m = 24
source_lat_s = 1
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 78
source_long_m = 49
source_long_s = 14
source_long_EW = W
source_coordinates_note =
source_elevation_imperial = 820
source_elevation_note = Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.]
source_length_imperial =
mouth_name = James River (Virginia)
mouth_location =
mouth_district =
mouth_region =
mouth_state =
mouth_country =
mouth_lat_d = 37
mouth_lat_m = 19
mouth_lat_s = 15
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 77
mouth_long_m = 16
mouth_long_s = 32
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_coordinates_note =
mouth_elevation_imperial = 0
mouth_elevation_note =
tributary_left =
tributary_left1 =
tributary_right =
tributary_right1 =
free_name =
free_value =


map_size = 300
map_caption = Map of the James River watershed with the Appomattox River watershed highlighted light yellow; the Appomattox River is shown in dark blue The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately 137 miles (220 km), in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century. It drains a cotton and tobacco-growing region of the Piedmont and coastal plain southwest of Richmond.

The English colonists in Virginia at first tried to rename the Appomattox as the "Bristoll River", however this name did not catch on, while the native one did. There are numerous historical spelling variants, such as Apamatuck, Apamutiky, Appamattuck, Appomattake, and Apumetecs, among others.

Course

The Appomattox River rises in the Piedmont of northeastern Appomattox County, approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the town of Appomattox. It flows generally southeast through the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest to Farmville. From Farmville it flows in a large arc northeast then southeast across the coastal plain, passing southwest of Richmond and passing through the Lake Chesdin reservoir. It flows through Petersburg, its head of navigation, through the Tri-cities area, then joins the James River from the west at City Point in Hopewell.

History

In April 1865 during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War, the Confederate forces attempted to burn the High Bridge over the river northwest of Burkeville in order to escape the pursuing Union Army after the fall of Petersburg. The Union capture of the bridge forced General Robert E. Lee's surrender at nearby Appomattox Court House, ending the war in Virginia.

Recreation

The river is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and canoeing.

ee also

*List of Virginia rivers

References

External links

* [http://www.virginiaplaces.org/watersheds/appomattox.html VirginiaPlaces.org Appomattox River Basin]
* [http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/9956/mcms.html Appomattox High Bridge]
* [http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/civwar/html/cw_010911_highbridgevi.htm Appomattox Campaign 1865]