Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
1. Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery Marker
These cannon mark the approximate position of a four-gun battery belonging to the Richmond Fayette Artillery, part of Major J.P.W. Read’s Battalion that held strategic points along the Confederate main line. The battery supported General Alfred Colquitt’s Georgia brigade on June 1, 1864, and participated in the repulse of a Union attack that evening.On the morning of June 3, Read’s gunners were again called to action. Their intense and accurate fire was directed towards the advancing Federal infantry that were part of General U.S. Grant’s all out assault against Lee’s lines. Lieutenant Eli Nichols of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery recalled the devastation caused by these Confederate artillerists:
“few men fell until we reached within [eighty yards] of the enemy’s first line, when they opened upon us with canister [and] grape hurling it into our faces and mowing down our lines as wheat falls before the reaper.”
Erected by Richmond National Battlefield Park - National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 35.101′ N, 77° 17.217′ W. Marker was in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. Marker was at the intersection of Cold Harbor Road (Virginia Route 156) and Anderson Wright Drive, on the left when traveling east on Cold Harbor Road. Marker is located in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park, near the Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Mechanicsville VA 23111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Walk in the Footsteps of History (here, next to this marker); We Must Hold This Line (here, next to this marker); Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Killing Fields (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Read's Battalion (within shouting distance
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
2. Marker on the Cold Harbor Battlefield
More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains a photograph of Maj. Read, with the caption “Major John Postell Williamson Read, formerly Chief of Police for Savannah, Georgia, commanded nearly 400 officers and men and 16 guns at Cold Harbor. The unit suffered only seven casualties.”
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "Read's Battalion".
Also see . . .
1. Cold Harbor. CMSAC Battle Summaries webpage. (Submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Cold Harbor. Richmond National Battlefield. (Submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. Cold Harbor Battlefield Virtual Tour by Markers. This is one of the many markers along the walking trail, extended loop trail, and auto tour route in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. (Submitted on March 9, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
3. Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery
Artillery placed here guarded Richmond from the Union advance. These guns helped stop several Federal frontal assaults during the Battle of Cold Harbor in June of 1864.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
4. Richmond National Battlefield Park
Marker is located near the Visitor Center in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,041 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on January 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
