Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Slaughter Pen Farm
Meade's Attack
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009
1. Meade's Attack Marker
Meade's troops advanced directly into a 600-yard gap in the Confederate line left unmanned because the swampy ground was mistakenly deemed impassible. Union troops pushed through the swampy woods, wrecked two Confederate brigades, and expanded the size of the gap in the Southern line. Both sides became disorganized and scrambled to regroup. Meade needed reinforcements but none arrived in time. Out of ammunition and out of time, Meade's men found it impossible to hold on.
"I felt sorry for those poor Yankee soldiers as they marched into the very jaws of death."
- Confederate Soldier
"We were now well into the enemy's warm fire. ... The men inclined their heads somewhat as though moving against a driving rain."
-Pvt. Bates Alexander, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves, USA
(Sidebar Captions to the Left):
Under Photo of General Meade:
As his attack was faltering, Gen. George G. Meade called
this page online
Under Drawing of Gen. Gregg:
Confederate Gen. Maxcy Gregg had compiled an impressive record on numerous Civil War battlefields. Fredericksburg was his last. As Meade's men unleashed a devastating volley into Gregg's surprised South Carolina troops, Gregg received a bullet in the spine from which he died two days later.
Erected 2009 by Civil War Preservation Trust and Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list.
Location. 38° 15.712′ N, 77° 26.601′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker can be reached from Tidewater Trail (U.S. 17), on the right when traveling south. Located on the Civil War Preservation Trust's Slaughter Pen Farm trail. Please obtain permission before entering the property. Call CWPT at (800) 298-7878. Touch for map. Marker
2. Civil War Preservation Trust
Help preservation like the Slaughter Pen Farm.
Click for more information.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Fredericksburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Fredericksburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Slaughter Pen Farm (approx. ¼ mile away); Colonial Fort (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
More about this marker. On the right is a map of the battlefield indicating the positions and movements in this sector as described in the text. In exploiting the supposedly impassible gap in the Confederate line, Meade put the Union army in position to win the battle. Franklin's failure to properly support Meade's assault, however, doomed the attack to failure.
Also see . . . The Slaughter Pen Farm. Civil War Preservation Trust virtual tour of the Slaughter Pen Farm. (Submitted on July 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009
3. Close Up of the Battle Map
The north seeking arrow points to the bottom of the map.
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009
4. Third Wayside on the Slaughter Pen Farm Trail
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009
5. Meade's Attack Finds the Gap
Looking to the southeast from the trail (at a point beyond the marker). Meade's attack drove over the railroad line that runs through the far wood line, and into the swampy bottom land beyond. While the bottom land is on the National Park Service property, the open field over which Meade's men advanced is partly an industrial park today.
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 25, 2009
6. Birney's Division in Support
Looking from the marker location back to the north east at US 17, which was the Bowling Green/Richmond Stage Road at the time of the battle. Birney's division stood by to support Meade along the road, then later advanced forward, belatedly, to the Confederate lines.
Library of Congress
7. George G. Meade
As his attack was faltering, Gen. George G. Meade called
upon Gen. David Birney to bring up his division in support. When Birney failed to advance, the notoriously testy Meade rode to the rear and berated Birney in a tone that could "almost make the stones creep" underfoot. Birney hastily organized his division and pushed forward, but it was too little, too late.
Internet Archive
8. Brigadier-General Maxcy Gregg, C.S.A.
Confederate Gen. Maxcy Gregg had compiled an impressive record on numerous Civil War battlefields. Fredericksburg was his last. As Meade's men unleashed a devastating volley into Gregg's surprised South Carolina troops, Gregg received a bullet in the spine from which he died two days later.
from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 3, Robert Underwood Johnson & Clarence Clough Buel 1887.
from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 3, Robert Underwood Johnson & Clarence Clough Buel 1887.
Internet Archive
9. Major-General David B. Birney
from Johnson & Buel, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Vol. 2., 1887.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,634 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 27, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7, 8. submitted on September 23, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 9. submitted on September 14, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
