Near Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Captured Trench
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009
1. A Captured Trench Marker
On the morning of June 1, 1864, Confederate soldiers of Thomas Clingman’s North Carolina brigade frantically dug this trench. They anticipated a Union assault later in the day. Around 6:00 p.m. Federal troops of the VI Corps moved into position near Old Cold Harbor, a half-mile to the east, and with two hours of daylight remaining, received orders to attack. This would be part of the first Union assault at Cold Harbor.
Emory Upton’s brigade of 2600 Union infantry attacked here. An intense, bloody battle ensued. Eventually Upton’s men reached this earthwork and clung to it, despite repeated attempts that evening to retake it.
“At the first ray of dawn it [the work] was strengthened and occupied by skirmishers; and during our stay at Cold Harbor, which lasted until midnight of June 12th, it remained our front line….”
Theodore Vaill, Upton’s Brigade
This is a rare surviving example of a “turned” entrenchment, used by each army and consequently facing in two different directions.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 1, 1862.
Location. 37° 35.319′ N, 77° 17.018′ W. Marker is near Mechanicsville, Virginia, in
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 walking distance of this marker: Keep Digging (a few steps from this marker); We Have Broken Through (a few steps from this marker); Keep Your Head Down (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Work at Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Stand Guard And Stay Awake (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (about 500 feet away); A Deadly Delay (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.
More about this marker. On the left is a sketch with the caption, Confederate infantry preparing defensive works
Also see . . .
1. Richmond National Battlefield Park. Cold Harbor (Submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
2. CWSAC Battle Summary. Cold Harbor (Submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009
2. Bridge crossing the trench line.
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009
3. A “turned” entrenchment
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009
4. Cold Harbor Battlefield
Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,630 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
