Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Harris Farm

Harris Farm Engagement

— Lee vs. Grant - The 1864 Campaign —

Harris Farm Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 15, 2014

1. Harris Farm Marker

Inscription.

Harris Farm. Harris Farm Engagement. , (sidebar) , On May 4, 1864, Union Gen. George Meade’s Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River to engage Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and to destroy it. The attack began the Overland Campaign, part of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s plan to strike Confederate forces simultaneously though out the South. Some of the bloodiest fighting of the war occurred as Grant and Meade followed Lee south: the Wilderness, May 5-7; Spotsylvania Court House, May 8-18; North Anna River, May 23-26; and Cold Harbor, June 1-3. In mid-June, the ten-month siege of Richmond and Petersburg began., (main text) , During the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Union Gens. George G. Meade and Ulysses S. Grant (who commanded all Union armies and accompanied Meade) battered Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s defenses. Unable to defeat the Confederates by direct assault, Grant shifted eastward, determined to head south in hopes of drawing Lee out of his Spotsylvania trenches. Suspecting Grant’s move, Lee ordered Gen. Richard S. Ewell to uncover Grant’s intentions., On May 19, 1864, Ewell sent his entire corps, reduced by recent fighting to just 6,000 men, on a reconnaissance-in-force toward the Fredericksburg Road (modern Route 208). Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur’s North Carolina brigade led the march. About 4 P.M., Ramseur’s men encountered a small Union force one mile west of here and slowly drove them back to this point., Ewell’s advance caught Grant off guard. Fearful that the Confederates might seize the Fredericksburg Road and jeopardize his supply line, Grant ordered nearby troops into action. Many of the Union regiments rushed into the battle were untested. They were recently pulled from the defenses of Washington, D.C., to support the Army of the Potomac. A brief, fierce fight ensued that cost the two sides nearly 2,400 casualties, but in the end Ewell relinquished control of the battlefield. Three days later, Grant pushed his army south only to confront Lee once again, along the banks of the North Anna River., (captions) , (upper right) Confederate dead being buried on Harris Farm Battlefield Courtesy Library of Congress , (upper right) Dead Confederate soldier, Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield Courtesy Library of Congress

(sidebar)
On May 4, 1864, Union Gen. George Meade’s Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River to engage Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and to destroy it. The attack began the Overland Campaign, part of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s plan to strike Confederate forces simultaneously though out the South. Some of the bloodiest fighting of the war occurred as Grant and Meade followed Lee south: the Wilderness, May 5-7; Spotsylvania Court House, May 8-18; North Anna River, May 23-26; and Cold Harbor, June 1-3. In mid-June, the ten-month siege of Richmond and Petersburg began.

(main text)
During the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Union Gens. George G. Meade and Ulysses S. Grant (who commanded all Union armies and accompanied Meade) battered Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s defenses. Unable to defeat the Confederates by direct assault, Grant shifted eastward, determined to head south in hopes of drawing Lee out of his Spotsylvania trenches. Suspecting Grant’s move, Lee ordered Gen. Richard S. Ewell to uncover Grant’s intentions.

On May 19, 1864, Ewell sent his entire corps, reduced by recent fighting to just 6,000 men, on a reconnaissance-in-force toward the Fredericksburg Road (modern Route 208). Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur’s North Carolina brigade led

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the march. About 4 P.M., Ramseur’s men encountered a small Union force one mile west of here and slowly drove them back to this point.

Ewell’s advance caught Grant off guard. Fearful that the Confederates might seize the Fredericksburg Road and jeopardize his supply line, Grant ordered nearby troops into action. Many of the Union regiments rushed into the battle were untested. They were recently pulled from the defenses of Washington, D.C., to support the Army of the Potomac. A brief, fierce fight ensued that cost the two sides nearly 2,400 casualties, but in the end Ewell relinquished control of the battlefield. Three days later, Grant pushed his army south only to confront Lee once again, along the banks of the North Anna River.

(captions)
(upper right) Confederate dead being buried on Harris Farm Battlefield Courtesy Library of Congress
(upper right) Dead Confederate soldier, Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield Courtesy Library of Congress

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2002.

Location. 38° 14.047′ N, 77° 34.209′ W. Marker is

Harris Farm Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 15, 2014

2. Harris Farm Markers

in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Harris Farm Road and Pond View Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7103 Monument Ct, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Harris Farm (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Harris Farm (a few steps from this marker); First Regiment Heavy Artillery (a few steps from this marker); Pvt. James Z. Branscomb, CSA (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Harris Farm (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Engagement at Harris Farm (Bloomsbury) (approx. half a mile away); Landram Farm (approx. 1.3 miles away); Landram House (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Also see . . .
1. Harris Farm Engagement. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 4, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Old Marker at this Location. This marker replaced an older one at this location titled “The Battle of Harris Farm” (Submitted on May 16, 2014.)

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 15, 2014

3. Harris Farm Markers

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 17, 2018

4. Harris Farm Marker

Closeup of map on the marker.

May 19, 1864

5. Scene of Ewell's attack, May 19, 1864, near Spottsylvania [i.e. Spotsylvania] Court House.

Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-104045]

Dead Confederate soldier as he lay on the field, after the battle of the 19th May image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Timothy H. O'Sullivan

6. Dead Confederate soldier as he lay on the field, after the battle of the 19th May

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-32910]

Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 738 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on January 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on May 15, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on January 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5, 6. submitted on June 1, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.