Bonneville was built by General John Pegram near the village of Dinwiddie in 1800. It currently sits on 60 acres and operates as a small beef cattle operation. The house was built near a large spring which supplied water for the household. The spring was used by soldiers of both the North and South during the battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse, fought 31 March 1865. The Confederate flanking attack aga
inst Sheridan's cavalry corps trapped several Union soldiers on the upper floor. Musket balls were embedded in the house during the battle, and were dislodged when the home was renovated about 1900. Some of the fighting around Bonneville has been referred to as the battle of Pegram Farms. Numerous relics of the battle, such as old muskets, bayonets and cannon balls have been unearthed on the farm during cultivation. There is a center hall with rooms on either side. Upstairs are three rooms and a hall. The basement has two rooms. About 1900 the original windows were replaced and an addition added in the center rear. At that time two old pennies were found, one was dated 1801 and the other 1797. The interior doors, mantels wainscoating, plasters and interior moulding are transitional between late Georgian and early Federal. The house now contains 14 rooms. The doors have six sections, forming a cross to keep out the witches, a superstition; also used in other Manor Houses of the area. The Southside Virginia News published an article, 16 February 1967, entitled "Bonneville Plantation Rich in History". The article includes an aerial photograph of the house and accompanying outbuildings, as well as photographs of the interior. It showed an old schoolmaster's desk, believed to be one of the first used in America. The article is too lengthy to include here, and the illustrations are not suitable for reproduction. The Works Progress Administration prepared a special report on Bonneville in 1937, which gives much detail including historical and architectural information.
