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

Lee’s Headquarters

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

1. Lee’s Headquarters Marker

Inscription. Just to the east stood the Clarke house (Lockwood), wherein Gen. Robert E. Lee made his field headquarters, 28-31 May 1864. While here, and though ill, Lee deployed troops to key positions in Hanover County, including Haw's Shop, Totopotomoy Creek, and Bethesda Church, and laid plans for his desperately outnumbered army to intercept Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's advance on Richmond. Lee telegraphed urgent appeals for reinforcements from nearby Atlee's Station on the Virginia Central Railroad. On 29 May President Jefferson Davis and Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard visited the stricken Lee here. Lee's planning culminated in the Battle of Cold Harbor, 31 May-12 June 1864, which stalled the Union offensive. The house was removed in 1990.

Erected 1994 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number ND-11.)

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 year for this entry is 1864.

Location. 37° 38.906′ N, 77° 24.277′ W. Marker is near Atlee, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is on Chamberlayne Road (U.S. 301) 0.1 miles north of Richmond Times Dispatch Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mechanicsville VA 23116, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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 within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Patrick Henry's Birthplace (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rutland (approx. 0.8 miles away); WWII Memorial Wall (approx. 1.7 miles away); Shady Grove Methodist Church (approx. 2 miles away); The "Dissenters' Glebe" Of The Rev. Samuel Davies (approx. 2.2 miles away); Liberty Golden Eagle (approx. 2½ miles away); Totopotomoy Line (approx. 2.8 miles away); Battle at Meadow Bridge (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlee.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Yellow Tavern (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

2. Lee’s Headquarters Marker

Site of nearby Atlee Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

3. Site of nearby Atlee Station

Richmond Times Dispatch Printing Plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

4. Richmond Times Dispatch Printing Plant

Despite widespread public opposition, the Clarke house (Lockwood) was disassembled in 1990 by Media General Inc to construct this printing plant.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,517 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 1, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.