Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

The Second corps also moved at half-past 5, Barlow's division leading, and Humphreys soon came up with the rebel rear at High bridge, five miles east of Farmville, where also the wagon road and the railroad cross the Appomattox. The wagon bridge had just been fired, and the second span of the railroad bridge was burning. A redoubt on the southern bank was blown up by the rebels as Humphreys approached, and eight pieces of artillery were abandoned. The rebels, however, had drawn up a considerable force of infantry on the opposite side to oppose the passage, and redoubts had been erected to increase the strength of the position. It was important to save the wagon bridge, for the river was not fordable for infantry and hardly for cavalry. The rebel skirmishers attempted to hold the bridge until it could be consumed, but they were quickly driven from it, and the Second corps passed over, Barlow in advance. Humphreys at once ordered artillery in position to cover an attack, but the enemy moved off, abandoning ten more guns on the northern side. The railroad bridge, an elaborate structure, was saved with the loss of four spans.

The rebels retreated in two columns, one moving along the river side towards Farmville, but the main body marching in a north-westerly direction. Humphreys followed the larger force with two divisions, and sent Barlow on the left to Farmville. Artillery could not accompany Barlow, for he marched along the railroad. Farmville was found in possession of a strong rebel force, burning the bridges and covering their wagon train. Barlow, however, attacked at once, and the enemy abandoned the town, burning a hundred and thirty wagons, and then falling rapidly