Civil War  |  Historic Site

High Bridge

Virginia

River Rd and Jamestown Road
Rice, VA 23966
United States

Get Directions

Website
Road to Freedom Tour Guide

This heritage site is a part of the American Battlefield Trust's Road to Freedom Tour Guide app, which showcases sites integral to the Black experience during the Civil War era. Download the FREE app now.

High Bridge across Appomattox River, south side railroad. Farmville, Va., (vicinity) April 1865.
High Bridge across Appomattox River, south side railroad. Farmville, Va., (vicinity) April 1865. Library of Congress

Fortifications to the original 1854 High Bridge were built, in part, with the help of area free men of color who were conscripted for Confederate service. The Confederate Congress authorized the draft of free men of color to support military activities. Confederate records indicate there were about 30 "black Confederates" supporting the Confederate Engineer Department at High Bridge in September 1864. The Bureau of Conscription authorized a draft for free African-Americans from Appomattox, Prince Edward, Amelia, Buckingham and Cumberland Counties to support Captain William G. Bender, the engineer in charge of construction of the fortifications. By December 1864, there were at least 50 such engaged in work. These men were provided Confederate uniforms and blankets due to cold weather.

Railroads During the Civil War from The National Historic Register Report

Explore the Road to Freedom

High Bridge: What's Nearby

Rice, VA
Full MapView Nearby Monuments
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Columbia, Virginia (VA-146)
Columbia, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Goochland, Virginia (VA-140)
Goochland, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
The American Civil War Museum - Appomattox
Appomattox, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Palmyra, Virginia (VA-131)
Palmyra, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
Petersburg, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar
Richmond, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Petersburg, Virginia (VA-129)
Petersburg, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
The Valentine Richmond History Center
Richmond, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
The American Civil War Museum–White House of the Confederacy
Richmond, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker at Richmond, Virginia (VA-108)
Richmond, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Old City Cemetery and Pest House Medical Museum
Lynchburg, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Sandusky Historic Site and Civil War Museum
Lynchburg, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Montpelier Station, Virginia (VA-36)
Montpelier Station, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Orange, Virginia (VA-94)
Orange, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Virginia Military Institute Museum
Lexington, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Halifax, North Carolina (NC-174)
Halifax, NC
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Jackson, North Carolina (NC-7)
Jackson, NC
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Williamsburg, Virginia (VA-180)
Williamsburg, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Visit Marker, Williamsburg, Virginia (V-62)
Williamsburg, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Fredericksburg, Virginia (VA-126)
Fredericksburg, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Enfield, North Carolina (NC-9)
Enfield, NC
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Jeffersonton, Virginia (VA-93)
Jeffersonton, VA
Rev War  |  Museum
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Yorktown, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker at Yorktown, Virginia (VA-60)
Yorktown, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Virginia Museum of the Civil War
New Market, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Hall of Valor Museum
New Market, VA
Rev War  |  Museum
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Triangle, VA
Museum
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Quantico, VA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker at Suffolk, Virginia (VA-21)
Rescue, VA
Civil War  |  Museum
Orange County Historical Museum
Hillsborough, NC