Milford Station Marker

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Milford in Caroline County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Milford Station
Lee Avoids A Trap
— Lee vs. Grant – The 1864 Campaign —

Milford Station CWT Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Bernard Fisher, May 23, 2009

1. Milford Station CWT Marker

Inscription. Unable to crack Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s strongly fortified lines at Spotsylvania Court House, Union Gen. Grant ordered Gen. Winfield Hancock’s Second Corps to cross the Mattaponi River here at Milford Station and threaten the Confederate army’s line of supply. Grant hoped Lee would try to overpower Hancock’s isolated corps, thereby exposing his own army to attack.

Gen. Alfred Torbert’s cavalry led Hancock’s column. When Torbert reached Milford Station on May 21, 1864, he found portions of two regiments of Confederate infantry blocking the way. In a short, stubborn fight, Torbert seized the hill 600 yards behind you and drove the Southerners across the river.

Hancock crossed the Mattaponi later that day, forcing the Confederate army to abandon Spotsylvania. Rather than attack Hancock’s corps, Lee hurried south to Hanover Junction. There, along the banks of the North Anna River, the next battle of the campaign would be fought.

“My chief Anxiety now is to draw Lee out of his works.” - Gen. U.S. Grant.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.

Location. 38° 1.373′ N, 77°

CWT Map - 1864 Overland Campaign Tour Route Photo, Click for full size

By Bernard Fisher, May 23, 2009

2. CWT Map - 1864 Overland Campaign Tour Route

22.439′ W. Marker is in Milford, Virginia, in Caroline County. Marker is at the intersection of Colonial Road and Antioch Road, on the right when traveling south on Colonial Road. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milford VA 22514, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Edmund Pendleton's Home (approx. 2.4 miles away); Campaign of 1781 (approx. 2.4 miles away); Caroline County Courthouse (approx. 2.4 miles away); Star Hotel (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bethel Church (approx. 4.2 miles away); Dickenson's Mill (approx. 7.5 miles away); Golansville Quaker Meetinghouse (approx. 7.5 miles away); Maneuvering to the North Anna River (approx. 7.7 miles away).

Also see . . . Civil War Traveler - Central Virginia. Lee vs. Grant: The 1864 Overland Campaign Tour - Milford Station. (Submitted on May 24, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)