Historical marker near the courthouse.
There are always two sides to a story as shown in the
different discriptions.
Wilson - Kautz Raid
In June 1864, to deny Gen. Rober E. Lee the use of the
South Side R.R. and the Richmond and Danville R. R.,
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sent Gen. James h. Wilson and Gen.
August V. Kautz south of
Petersbury on a cavalry raid to destroy tract and rolling
stock. After destroying railroad facilities and equipment
at Burkeville Junction, Meherrin Station, and Keysville,
several parties of
Federal foragers arrived here about 11 a.m. on June 25.
The fears of local citizens were somewhat eased when
the detachments burned no buildings.
"A party of 72 reached Charlotte Court House about
11 o'clock (a.M.) Saturday, and remained three or four
hours, and employed themselves in stealing horses, destroying
furniture, breaking open
iron safes and robbing citizens of money, watches and
jewelry. They did not burn the Court House, clerk's office
or any other building."
Confederate News Report, The Richmond Examiner, July
4, 1864.
* * * * * *
"Went to Charlotte Court House, Detachment of second
New York broke open stores, released two civil prisoners
and did many things out of the way. Our hopes did not
indulge in one thing disgraceful
to my knowledge. People complimented us very highly.
Seemed very thankful that we did not rob or burn."
Trooper Luman Harris Tenney, 2nd Ohio Cavalry.
In beige at the bottom right corner:
Patrick Henry's last public debate took place in the
courthouse square in 1799, when he and John Randolph
of Roanoke contended for seats in the Virginia House
of Delegates.
The present Charlotte County courthouse was built by
John Percival in 1822-23 from plans by Thomas Jeffersons
for the 1822 Buckingham County courthouse, the first
temple-form court building in Virginia.
Quintessentially Virginia with its red brick and white
classical trim, the Charlotte County courthouse inspired
several other court structures inthe southern Piedmont
and is still in regular use. |
