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

“the grandest sean of all”

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 5, 2011

1. “the grandest sean of all” Marker

Inscription. Beginning just after 4:00 pm and continuing into darkness, charging Confederate infantry made repeated assaults up these gentle slopes. In several places those attacks came within point-blank range of the Union lines. This ground is such a place.

The position here was held by Gen. Charles Griffin’s brigade with regiments from New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Earlier in the day his men supported the artillery. Casualties were light. But with the setting sun came orders to move forward through the guns and meet the foe.

It was late afternoon when troops commanded by Gen. John B. Magruder rushed forward in hopes of silencing the deadly accurate Union guns. Their efforts climaxed in a brief but bloody struggle against Griffin’s infantry. Sulfurous battle smoke clouded the field as the two lines converged, the range so close that it was impossible to miss. “We murdered them by the hundreds,” remembered one Union survivor.

“Now came the grandest sean of all...the rebels charged back on the 9th [Massachusetts], following them right into our lines....Our men were ready & as soon as the 9th was out of the way we poured in such a volley that there was very few left of them on our end of the line.” Capt. Marshall Chapin, 4th Michigan Infantry

(caption) Sketch artist

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Alfred Waud accurately conveyed the dominating position enjoyed by Union artillerists.

Erected 2011 by Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 37° 24.783′ N, 77° 15.112′ W. Marker is in Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker can be reached from Willis Church Road (Route 156) near Carters Mill Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in the Malvern Hill Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9175 Willis Church Road, Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Malvern Hill Crest (a few steps from this marker); Advantages of Terrain (within shouting distance of this marker); The Crew House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Place of Refuge (about 300 feet away); Union Firepower (about 400 feet away); A Splendid Field of Battle (about 500 feet away); Freeman Marker (about 500 feet away); Malvern Hill (about 500 feet away).

Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Malvern Hill. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on November 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Union gun positions in the distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 5, 2011

2. Union gun positions in the distance

2. Malvern Hill. Civil War Trust (Submitted on November 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

3. Malvern Hill Battlefield Podcast. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on November 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Additional keywords. “the grandest sean of all”

Battle of Malvern Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alfred Rudolph Waud, July 1, 1861

3. Battle of Malvern Hill

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-22451]

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 604 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.