In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert 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 Petersburg on a cavalry raid to destroy track and rolling stock. While passing through Lunenburg County on the return to the Union lines at Petersburg, discipline broke down among some of the Federal raiders who pillaged public and private property. The plundering of St. John's Church, from which a silver communion service was taken, especially outraged local residents. The service was later recovered by Confederate cavalry from Wilson's headquarters wagons abandoned at the Battle of Ream's Station on June 29. The church building was moved from its original location three miles south to this spot after the war.