Hanover Tavern

Hanover Tavern. War Comes to Hanover Courthouse. , This community’s first real taste of war came in May 1862, when Gen. George B. McC1e11an’s Union army moved from the east to threaten Richmond. On May 25, McClellan ordered troops to reconnoiter the Hanover Courthouse area and push back any enemy found there. Meanwhile, Confederates concentrated four miles southwest of here around Peake’s Turnout, with orders to protect the Virginia Central Railroad. The opposing forces made contact near the Peakes depot on May 27, a spirited fight ensued, and late in the afternoon the Confederates were pressed back toward Ashland by superior Federal force., On June 12, 1862, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart led his men past Hanover Tavern on his famous reconnoiter of the Federal positions. Confederate Capt. William Latane was killed leading his men in a skirmish a few miles east of here. He was the only Confederate fatality in Stuart’s “ride.”, n May 1864, the Courthouse community escaped the direct impact of Union Gen. U.S. Grant’s overland advance toward Richmond. After Grant was blocked at the North Anna River 12 miles northwest of here, he moved his army along the Pamunkey River (one mile north) probing for a Confederate weak point. Operating behind a cavalry screen in this area, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee moved once again to block Grant. Late on May 26, Grant began crossing the Pamunkey at Nelson’s Ferry four miles east of here and moved toward Totopotomoy Creek. Tavern residents, mostly battle-weary refugees from Northern Virginia, breathed sighs of relief., (captions) , Battle of Hanover Courthouse (Slash Church) May 27, 1862. (inset)37th NC flag with battle honors -The Museum of the Confederacy., “The Burial of Latane” by William D. Washington (1864). -The Museum of the Confederacy., Stuart’s Ride J.E.B. Stuart led 1,200 men in a daring 100-mile reconnaissance ride around McClellan’s army June 12-15, 1862.