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

Battle Of Bethesda Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 28, 2009

1. Battle Of Bethesda Church Marker

Inscription. Here stood Bethesda Church, founded about 1830 and used by Baptists and Disciples of Christ until it burned in 1868. In May 1864, during the Civil War, Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren's V Corps formed the left flank of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Union line here, facing Gen. Robert E. Lee's army. On 30 May, Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early's attack on Warren's position failed. Early attacked again on 2 June, but was beaten back by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's IX Corps. The next day Grant assaulted the center of Lee's line at Cold Harbor and was defeated with enormous losses.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-12.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1864.

Location. 37° 37.708′ N, 77° 17.694′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is at the intersection of Mechanicsville Turnpike (U.S. 360) and Hughes Road, on the right when traveling east on Mechanicsville Turnpike. 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

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within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cold Harbor Campaign (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Cold Harbor Campaign (approx. one mile away); Battle of Cold Harbor (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Cold Harbor (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Cold Harbor (approx. 1½ miles away); 36th Wisconsin (approx. 1.8 miles away); "Liberty Hall" (approx. 1.9 miles away); June 3, 1864 — 18th Corps: A Disastrous Attack (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Also see . . . Battle with Many Names. In addition to Bethesda Church, other nearby landmarks were mentioned as the battle's name - Totopotomy Creek, Stumps Creek, Shady Grove Lane, and Hanovertown. (Submitted on January 28, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 28, 2009

2. Battle Of Bethesda Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 7,856 times since then and 229 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 27, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.