- High Bridge (Appomattox River)
High Bridge in
Prince Edward County, Virginia , is a historic formerrailroad bridge across theAppomattox River valley about convert|6|mi east (downstream) from the town of Farmville. Part of theSouth Side Railroad between Petersburg and Lynchburg, it was the longest in the world when completed in 1852.fact|date=August 2008The High Bridge played a significant role during Lee's retreat in the final days of the
American Civil War , and was the site of theBattle of High Bridge in April 1865. Rebuilt after the Civil War, the 21-span structure is convert|2400|ft long and towers convert|160|ft above the Appomattox River Valley.Construction
In the 1850s, the South Side Railroad between Petersburg and Lynchburg was built through Farmville between Burkeville and Pamplin City. The route, which was subsidized by a contribution from Farmville, required an expensive crossing of the
Appomattox River valley and flood plain slightly downstream which became known as the High Bridge. The High Bridge's twenty piers contained almost four million bricks, and supported a wooden superstructure. It was believed to be the longest in the world when completed in 1852. The South Side Railroad itself was completed in 1854.American Civil War
The South Side Railroad was heavily damaged during the
American Civil War . The High Bridge played a key role during Confederate GeneralRobert E. Lee 's final retreat from Petersburg in the last days of the War. TheBattle of High Bridge took place there onApril 6 -7,1865 . Fleeing Union troops, the Confederates set the bridge afire after crossing it, but failed to destroy it. Union troops were able to use it and continued the chase, which ended several days later atAppomattox Courthouse , where Lee's surrender to Union GeneralUlysses S. Grant took place on April 9, 1865.Post-bellum, AM&O, N&W
system.
Abandonment by railroad, future use
Partially due to the high cost of maintaining the High Bridge over the Appomattox River valley, the NS railroad line through Farmville was downgraded and eventually abandoned, in favor of the "Low-grade Line" between Burkeville and Pamplin. The low-grade line, completed in 1916, contained more favorable grades for westbound trains. The South Side Railroad had originally envisioned using the low-grade route until persuaded by the citizens of Farmville, VA to bring the line through their town.
In 2006, there were plans under discussion regarding turning the High Bridge into a portion of a rail trail or part of a linear state park. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/highbridge.shtml] This became
High Bridge Trail State Park .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.