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

Cornwallis's Route

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 6, 2009

1. Cornwallis's Route Marker

Inscription. Gen. Charles Cornwallis and his British forces left Petersburg on 24 May 1781 to attack the Marquis de Lafayette and his troops stationed in Richmond. Learning of Cornwallis's movements, Lafayette abandoned the city on 27 May and moved north through Hanover County to the North Anna River. After bivouacking at White Oak Swamp on 27 May, Cornwallis pursued Lafayette through Hanover County until 1 June, when the British troops reached the North Anna River. There Cornwallis sent his forces west in a two-pronged attack to destroy colonial storehouses and attempt to capture the governor and the General Assembly in Charlottesville.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-13.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1781.

Location. 37° 40.884′ N, 77° 11.304′ W. Marker is near Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is on Mechanicsville Turnpike (U.S. 360) 1.2 miles east of River Road, on the right when traveling east. 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 within 4 miles of

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this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Old Virginia Barn" (approx. ¾ mile away); "Prestley Barn" (approx. ¾ mile away); Edmund Ruffin's Grave (approx. 2.7 miles away); Headquarters of Opechancanough (approx. 2.9 miles away); Pamunkey Indians In The Civil War (approx. 3 miles away); Robert Mush (approx. 3 miles away); Stuart's Ride (approx. 3 miles away); “The Old Church” (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Henry's Call to Arms (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Cornwallis's Route Marker on Rte 360 (facing east). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 6, 2009

2. Cornwallis's Route Marker on Rte 360 (facing east).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,221 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.