Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Sheridan's Raid
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 12, 2009
1. Sheridan's Raid Marker
Inscription.
Sheridan's Raid. . Union Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan from 9 to 14 May 1864 led three cavalry divisions on a raid around Richmond. His forces severed vital Confederate communication lines, destroyed railroad tracks, and captured stores and supplies. On 11 May Sheridan's troops defeated Confederate Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry forces at Yellow Tavern, and mortally wounded Stuart. The next day Sheridan's men fought Confederate forces while crossing the Chickahominy River at the Meadow Bridges, north of here. Once the Federals made it to the Hanover County side of the river, they passed by here to Mechanicsville and bivouacked at Gaines's Mill to the east.
Union Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan from 9 to 14 May 1864 led three cavalry divisions on a raid around Richmond. His forces severed vital Confederate communication lines, destroyed railroad tracks, and captured stores and supplies. On 11 May Sheridan's troops defeated Confederate Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry forces at Yellow Tavern, and mortally wounded Stuart. The next day Sheridan's men fought Confederate forces while crossing the Chickahominy River at the Meadow Bridges, north of here. Once the Federals made it to the Hanover County side of the river, they passed by here to Mechanicsville and bivouacked at Gaines's Mill to the east.
Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-8.)
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 May 14, 1864.
Location. 37° 36.72′ N, 77° 22.678′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is at the intersection of Atlee Road and Mechanicsville Elementary Drive, on the right when traveling south on Atlee 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 and specifically in the Upper South. 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.
2. Atlee Road looking south towards Mechanicsville
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,907 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
