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

Confederate Futility

Union Cannon Devastate the Confederates

— Malvern Hill Battlefield - Richmond National Battlefield Park —

Confederate Futility Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

1. Confederate Futility Marker

Inscription. Confederate attacks reached their final fury just before sunset. "The men would rush forward as they were urged," recalled a North Carolinian, "and then it seemed as though the whole line would sway back as a field of corn would before a wind." When especially bold units neared the line of Union cannon, Federal infantry rushed out in front of the artillery to repel the threat. No Confederates reached the guns.

Pinched into a narrow attack front by steep cliffs on either side, Southern soldiers felt the full devastating blast of that Federal artillery. To a numbed eyewitness, "it seemed as though everything was at war with everything else, and death and destruction was the game of the whole."

Erected by Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, Inc.

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

Location. 37° 25.164′ N, 77° 15.164′ W. Marker is near Henrico, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker is at the intersection of Carters Mill Road and Willis Church Road (State Highway 156), on the right when traveling south on Carters Mill Road. Located in the Malvern Hill Battlefield Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker. Outgunned (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Confederate Futility (about 400 feet away); Malvern Hill (about 400 feet away); "Madness" (about 500 feet away); Historic Farm Road (about 600 feet away); Battlefield Burials (about 600 feet away); The Confederate High Water Mark (about 700 feet away); Seven Days Battles (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henrico.

More about this marker. The background of the marker is a drawing based on A postwar view of the field, looking toward the Union position. The Crew house is at right, the Willis Church Road and West house are at the extreme left. Union artillery and infantry filled the ground between the two houses. Modern structures now mark the sites of the wartime houses.

Malvern Hill - CWPT image. Click for more information.

2. Malvern Hill - CWPT

Civil War Preservation Trust's efforts to preserve portions of the battlefield.
Click for more information.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

3. Confederate Futility Marker

View of Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

4. View of Battlefield

On the left is the West House (post-war structure rebuilt on the foundation). To the right, behind the tree line, is the site of the Crew house which was also rebuilt after the war. Just in front of the Crew house stood, at the time of the battle, several slave cabins.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,068 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 28, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on April 2, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.