Capture of African Americans by Union troops

John McEntee - Captain
Headquarters Army of the Potomac
Aug. 3, 1864

Another scout (colored), supposed to have been captured yesterday, just came in and reports that his colored friends near Stony Creek told him that Butlers brigade of cavalry was lying at Reams Station. General Hampton was in that vicinity with one brigade (Rossers), between Reams Station and Stony Creek. He also reports that his friends told him that on Sunday last General Lees cavalry division marched from the north side of the Appomattox River to Dinwiddie Court-House, and on Monday marched back north of Petersburg. This man is familiar with the country about Reams Station, etc. His wife now lives on Stony Creek, and lie has many acquaintances about there with whom he has talked.

Additional Details
African Americans Involved: 1
Army: Union
Source Location: Headquarters Army of the Potomac
Source Recipient: Major-General Andrew A. Humphreys

The War of the Rebellion Series. 1 Vol. 42 Part II Page 26-27

African Americans Helping the Union

O.B. Willcox - Brevet Major-General

Lew Jones Bridge on the Nottoway River, Brunswick/Dinwiddie Counties, VA

April 9, 1865

 

The people are driving their herds and horses across Nottoway River. Negroes, coming in numbers, say they have been ordered in with horses, mules, etc. They are stealing and pillaging.

Additional Details

• African Americans Involved: In numbers...likely a few dozen?
• Army: Union
• Source Location: Beasley's House, Petersburg, VA
• Source Recipient: Major-General Parke

The War of the Rebellion Series.1 Vol. 46 Part III Page 675

African Americans Helping the Union

G.K. Warren - Major-General of Volunteers

Vaughan Road, Dinwiddie, VA

March 29, 1865

My column is just passing the junction of the stage road with the Vaughan road. No sign of enemy. I have an old negro who has been hiding around in the woods near Crawford Church. He says he saw a man from Dinwiddie Court-House yesterday, and there were no troops there. I cannot rely much upon what he says. I send this up the Vaughan road by Captain Winslow with an escort of ten men.
Additional Details

• African Americans Involved: 1
• Army: Union
• Source Location: Near Vaughan Road, Dinwiddie, VA
• Source Recipient: Major-General A.S. Webb

The War of the Rebellion Series.1 Vol. 46 Part III Page 254

Dinwiddie Court House

Conscription, Confederate (army or labor)

Rob N. West - Colonel

Dinwiddie Court House, VA

Sept. 8, 1864

According to their accounts, the farmers are thrashing out their grain with all possible dispatch, and hurrying it and their prime negroes beyond Dinwiddie Court-House.
Additional Details

• Army: Confederate
• Source Location: In the Field
• Source Recipient: Captain M.J. Asch

The War of the Rebellion Series. 1 Vol. 42 Part II Page 756

Sappony Church, VA

Capture/enslavement/re-enslavement of African Americans by Confederates

Sappony Church, VA

June 28, 1864

Defeated them at Sappony Church, about seven miles southwest of Dinwiddie Court-House; and at Ream's our forces attacked them in front and near, putting them utterly to rout, and making important captures, the most valuable of which consists of some hundreds of negroes, curried away from their owners by the Yankees on their expedition.

Additional Details

• African Americans Involved: Many
• African American Name: Not given
• Slave Owner Name: Not given
• Source Location: Richmond, VA
• Newspaper: Richmond Daily Dispatch, July 1, 1864 [Untitled] Page 1 Column 1

Fugitive Slaves/Runaways

Winfield Scott Hancock - Major-General

Near Boydton Plank Road, Dinwiddie, VA

Nov. 19, 1864

 

Eight deserters, two white men refugees, four negro men, and one woman came into my lines during the night....The negroes state that the enemy are daily expecting a movement on our part. I send you a Richmond paper of the 18th, which they brought over. The Richmond paper states that when last heard from Sherman was at Jonesborough, on his road to Macon.
Additional Details

• African Americans Involved: 4
• Army: Union
• Source Location: Headquarters Second Army Corps
• Source Recipient: Major-General A.A. Humphreys

The War of the Rebellion Series. 1 Vol. 42 Part III Page 662

 

Dinwiddie County, Virginia: A Brief History

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