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

A Deadly Delay

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

1. A Deadly Delay Marker

Inscription.
The Union assaults of June 3 failed on nearly all fronts. For the next three days, while Federal wounded lay untended between the lines, Generals U. S. Grant and R. E. Lee struggled over the details of a truce. On June 7, more than 100 hours after the attack, the generals agreed to a two-hour truce. Along one part of the line work parties found 244 Union dead and only three survivors.

One New Jersey soldier recalled that during the truce the former enemies were

talking to each other and exchanging newspapers…the works were lined with unarmed men, all gazing upon the solemn scene. The 2 hours soon passed, the signal was given, the men rushed back to their arms, and the rattle of musketry was again commenced along the line.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant day of the year for for this entry is June 3.

Location. 37° 35.352′ N, 77° 17.122′ 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

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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, 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 Lethal Occupation (a few steps from this marker); Stand Guard And Stay Awake (within shouting distance of this marker); We Have Broken Through (about 500 feet away, measured in a

Cold Harbor Walking Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

2. Cold Harbor Walking Trail

direct line); Hot Work at Cold Harbor (about 500 feet away); A Captured Trench (about 500 feet away); Keep Digging (about 600 feet away); Keep Your Head Down (about 600 feet away); The Waters Ran Red (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

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.)

Cold Harbor Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 9, 2009

3. Cold Harbor Battlefield

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,305 times since then and 28 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. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.