Editing Dinwiddie County, Virginia (section)

==History==
[[File:Robert Dinwiddie from NPG.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Portrait of [[Robert Dinwiddie]]; Dinwiddie County was named in his honor]]

The first inhabitants of the area were [[Paleo-Indians]], prior to 8000 BC. They are believed to have been nomadic hunter-gatherers following animal migrations. Early stone tools have been discovered in various fields within the county. At the time of European contact, Native Americans made their homes in the region.

Dinwiddie County was formed May 1, 1752, from [[Prince George County, Virginia|Prince George County]]. The county is named for [[Robert Dinwiddie]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]], 1751–58. The county raised several militia units that would fight in the American Revolution.

Dinwiddie County was the birthplace of [[Elizabeth Keckley|Elizabeth (Burwell) Hobbs Keckly]], a [[free black]] dressmaker who worked for two presidents' wives: Mrs. [[Jefferson Davis]] and later [[Mary Todd Lincoln]]. [[Thomas Day (North Carolina)|Thomas Day]] was also a native; he was well known later at [[Milton, North Carolina]], as a free black cabinetmaker. Another native son was Dr. Thomas Stewart, perhaps America's first free black 18th-century rural physician.<ref>''Virginia Gazette'' Nov. 1778 as found in Freeafricanamericans.com</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] the [[Battle of Lewis's Farm]] was fought along Quaker Road [Rt. 660]. It took place on March 29, 1865. This was the first in several attempts by Union General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] to cut [[Robert E. Lee]]'s final supply line—the [[Southside Railroad (Virginia)|Southside Railroad]]—in the spring of 1865. Here the [[Union Army|Union]] forces led by Brig. Gen. [[Joshua L. Chamberlain]] engaged [[Confederate States Army|Confederates]] under Maj. Gen. [[Bushrod R. Johnson]]. After sharp fighting, the Union troops entrenched nearby along the Boydton Plank Road, and Johnson withdrew to his lines at White Oak Road. The Union army cut the rail line four days later, after capturing Five Forks on April 1, 1865, at the [[Battle of Five Forks]]. Several other engagements were fought in Dinwiddie County, including the [[Battle of Dinwiddie Court House]], [[Battle of Sutherland's Station]], and [[Battle of White Oak Road]].

The [[Dinwiddie County Historical Society]] currently occupies the historic [[Dinwiddie County Court House]].

===Civil War battles===
* [[Battle of Peebles' Farm]]
* [[Battle of Lewis's Farm]]
* [[Battle of Dinwiddie Court House]]
* [[Battle of White Oak Road]]
* [[Battle of Five Forks]]
* [[Battle of Sutherland's Station]]