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

Stand Guard And Stay Awake

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

1. Stand Guard And Stay Awake Marker

Inscription.
This well preserved rifle pit is one of many that extended across this hilltop and along the entire front. It marks the most advanced Federal position in this sector, only 50 yards from similar Confederate pits on the opposite crest.

Soldiers posted in these depressions gave early warning of any unusual enemy movements. Because they were so close to the enemy, many of these positions could be occupied only at night.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 37° 35.358′ N, 77° 17.078′ W. Marker is near Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It can be reached from the intersection of Anderson-Wright Drive and Cold Harbor Road (Virginia Route 156), on the right when traveling north. This marker is located along the walking trail in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5515 Anderson-Wright Drive, Mechanicsville VA 23111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: A Deadly Delay (within shouting distance of this marker); A Lethal Occupation (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Work at Cold Harbor (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); We Have Broken Through (about 300 feet away); A Captured Trench (about 400 feet away); Keep Digging (about 400 feet away); Keep Your Head Down (about 500 feet away); Battle of Cold Harbor (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Also see . . .
1. Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Cold Harbor Walking Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

2. Cold Harbor Walking Trail

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.)

3. Cold Harbor Battlefield Virtual Tour by Markers. This is one of the many markers along the walking trail, extended loop trail, and auto tour route in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. (Submitted on March 9, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

3. Rifle Pit

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, December 27, 2025

4. Stand Guard And Stay Awake Marker

With rifle pits visible at left. Many of the terrain features at Cold Harbor are most visible in the late fall and winter months when vegetation doesn't obscure them

Cold Harbor Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

5. Cold Harbor Battlefield

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,218 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on December 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.