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

Seven Days’ Battles

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

1. Battle of Beaver Dam Creek Marker

Inscription. The Civil War battle of Beaver Dam Creek (Mechanicsville) began on the afternoon of 26 June 1862. Confederate Maj. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill’s division crossed the Chickahominy upstream at Meadow Bridges and encountered Union skirmishers. The Federals fell back to a strong position east of Beaver Dam Creek at Ellerson’s Mill. There the Confederates attacked along a two-mile front, but were repulsed by Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps. That night Union forces abandoned their position and occupied a new defensive line behind Boatswain’s Creek, where the Battle of Gaines’s Mill took place the next day.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 26, 1862.

Location. 37° 36.147′ N, 77° 22.214′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is at the intersection of Cold Harbor Road (Virginia Route 156) and Fast Lane, on the right when traveling east on Cold

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Harbor Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mechanicsville VA 23111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mechanicsville (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Seven Days Battles (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Seven Days Battles (approx. 0.6 miles away); Beaver Dam Creek (approx. ¾ mile away); Lee’s First Strike (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Beaver Dam Creek (approx. ¾ mile away); Sheridan's Raid (approx. 0.8

Beaver Dam Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

2. Beaver Dam Creek

On June 26, 1862, troops of Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill confronted Federals of Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps at this location on Beaver Dam Creek. The creek is located about ¾ of a mile west of the marker.

miles away); Historic Cold Harbor Road (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Beaver Dam Creek (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); The Creek Runs Red (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been confirmed missing); The Confederates Attack (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Beaver Dam Creek. CWSAC Battle Summaries website. (Submitted on January 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

2. The Seven Days Battle. HistoryCentral.com website. (Submitted on January 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007

3. Gaines Mill

This is the location where the Union troops fell back to after the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek. The Battle of Gaines Mill was fought here on June 27, 1862.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,755 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 2, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.