In June 1864, to deny Gen. Robert E. Lee 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. After burning stores at Ream’s Station on June 22, the Federals rode south for eight miles to make the Confederates think the Weldon R.R. to N.C. was the object of the raid. Wilson’s men then turned west to Dinwiddie Court House to intersect the South Side R.R., while Gen. W.H.F. “Rooney” Lee’s Confederate cavalry harassed Wilson’s rear guard from Ream’s Station for ten miles and reported taking at least ten prisoners. The Federals remained at Dinwiddie Court House until 4 p.m., destroying some county records and appropriating local livestock before turning north toward the South Side R.R.