Cumberland House During the Civil War

Cumberland House During the Civil War. . , Civil War at Cumberland May 1862 , "It was a grand sight of the divisions as they debouched down the high hill on which the Cumberland house stood, and spread over the broad plain stretching nearly as far as the eye could see. The plantation was covered with clover a foot deep, and wheat and rye that waved and cavorted with the wind. But all this fine prospect of an abundant harvest was trampled down by the multitude of soldiers, who poured onto the plain for three hours, then formed in three long, glittering lines, with banners flying and bands playing. Batteries of artillery and troops of cavalry galloped into position on the flanks and center, the whole forming one of those grand and imposing scenes rarely seen, and never forgotten. Looking to the left, in the direction of New Kent Court House, the plain was dotted with clumps of trees, under which the white tents began to nestle, in beautiful contrast to the deep green foliage. The soldiers hung their tents with wild flowers, for the woods were filled with them, and the very air was sweet with their perfumes. On the right was the beautiful river, which was narrow here and curved gently for a distance of four miles, its banks covered with fine old trees. As the three gunboats, followed by the fleet of transports, swept around this end, their tall masts and dark funnel peering above the trees, the effect was magnificent." Excerpt from a soldier's letter by Francis Colburn Adams while at the Toler Estate (Cumberland), May, 1862, Time Line of Cumberland Owners , Cumberland was purchased from the founding Littlepage Family by Stephen Holmes in a public auction in 1768. Stephen Holmes died and left the estate of 1000 acres to his brother John Holmes. Henry and Susan Toller owned Cumberland from 1839 to 1872 and both are buried on the estate. The property was inherited by their daughter, Henrietta Toller Fauntleroy. Col. Benjamin Brinton, great nephew of General George Brinton McClellan (the Union commander who used Cumberland as a base during the 1862 Peninsular Campaign) purchased the property in 1932. He and his wife restored Cumberland adding two large brick wings. The estate was purchased by Theodore Mangelsdorf in 1960 and in 1989 Russell and Lucille Briere acquired it and lived there until it was bought by Don Roden in 2007. John Poindexter acquired Cumberland in 2013 and it became the headquarters of a large property holding in New Kent. Since that date, the original Brinton landscaping has been enhanced and the property subjected to a thorough interior and exterior restoration. The Poindexter family settled in New Kent County by the 1680s, founded the noteworthy nearby plantation of Criss Cross and no doubt utilized Cumberland Town to further its commercial and shipping interests.