Battle of Namozine Church

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.

Early stages of battle

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.

Main battle

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.

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.

Aftermath

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.

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.
* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va124.htm National Park Service battle summary]