Appomattox River

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The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately 137 miles (220 km), in central and eastern Virginia in the United States. It drains a cotton and tobacco-growing region of the Piedmont and coastal plain southwest of Richmond.

Variant and historical names of the Appomattox River include North Branch, and many spelling variations such as Apamatuck, Apamutiky, Appamattuck, Appomattake, and Apumetecs, among others.

Course

The Appomattox River rises in the Piedmont of northeastern Appomattox County, approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the town of Appomattox. It flows generally southeast through the Buckingham-Appomattox State Forest to Farmville. From Farmville it flows in a large arc northeast then southeast across the coastal plain, passing southwest of Richmond and passing through the Lake Chesdin reservoir. It flows through Petersburg, its head of navigation, through the Tri-cities area, then joins the James River from the west at City Point in Hopewell.

History

In April 1865 during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War, the Confederate forces attempted to burn the High Bridge over the river northwest of Burkeville in order to escape the pursuing Union Army after the fall of Petersburg. The Union capture of the bridge forced General Robert E. Lee's surrender at nearby Appomattox Court House, ending the war in Virginia.

Recreation

The river is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and canoeing.

See also

• List of Virginia rivers

References

External links

• VirginiaPlaces.org Appomattox River Basin
• Appomattox High Bridge
• Appomattox Campaign 1865

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Last updated on Friday December 28, 2007 at 20:17:37 PST (GMT -0800)
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