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. Near here on the morning of June 23, seven local men captured 32 of Wilson’s cavalrymen after the detachment left the main column to destroy a bridge. Capt. George D. White of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry, at home in Boydton recuperating from a wound, learned of the side raid, recruited six neighbors, and found the Federals taking breakfast at a local house. He positioned the six mounted men to appear like the front rank of a larger cavalry force, then approached unseen and demanded surrender, threatening to cut them to pieces and pointing toward what seemed to be a squadron. Surprised and panicked, the Federal officer asked for time to consult his men, but White refused any delay and ordered them to stack arms in the road and march immediately to the supposed force. The Federals surrendered, then discovered they had yielded to six citizens armed only with double-barrel shotguns.