Williamsburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Battle of Williamsburg

Battle of Williamsburg Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Battle of Williamsburg Marker

Inscription. The Battle of Williamsburg, fought on 5 May 1862, was the first major engagement of the Peninsula Campaign. Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, slowly advancing from Hampton Roads toward Richmond, encountered the rear guard of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's westward-moving army near here. Confederates under Maj. Gen. James Longstreet delayed the Union advance in a fierce, daylong battle in a driving rain. Nearly 41,000 Federals and 32,000 Confederates were engaged, with about 4,000 casualties. The result was a draw, although both sides claimed victory. The next day, the Confederates continued marching toward Richmond and Union troops occupied Williamsburg.

Erected 2015 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-43.)

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 5, 1862.

Location. 37° 15.856′ N, 76° 40.735′ W. Marker is in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Pocahontas Trail (U.S. 60) and Avon Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Pocahontas Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6945 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg VA 23185, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Peninsula Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Quarterpath Road (within shouting distance of this marker); History of Fort Magruder (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Battle of Williamsburg (approx. 0.4 miles away); Redoubt 2 (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Battle of Williamsburg (approx. half a mile away); Vineyard Tract (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Magruder (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Williamsburg (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Magruder’s Defenses (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Vineyard Tract (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Old marker near this location. This marker replaces an older W-43 marker named "Battle of Williamsburg" (Submitted on February 27, 2019.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Battle of Williamsburg Marker

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Battle of Williamsburg Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 919 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on February 6, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 27, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.