Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Attacking the High Ground
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 28, 2014
1. Attacking the High Ground Marker
Totopotomy Creek separated the armies here between May 29 and 31, 1864. Twice the men of the Union 2nd Corps (Barlow's Division) charged down this slope. They hoped to cross the "deep morass" and seize the opposite heights. Darkness halted the first assault, on May 30, after partial success.The next day heavier Confederate fire from rifle pits greeted the attackers. "The men fell like sheep," and the attack stalled. To the right and left of here, though, other Federal commands were able to establish permanent toeholds on the Confederate side of the creek. These troops shifted south toward Cold Harbor on June 1.
Lieutenant Robert Robertson's diary entry for May 31:
"As I went down the slope....I was struck by a bullet...and knew no more until I recovered and found myself lying on the ground, while my faithful horse was standing over me and licking my face....I thought I was dying, and never did the blue sky and green woods and field look half so beautiful as then...."
Erected 2014 by Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 37° 39.169′ N, 77° 20.733′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. Marker can be reached from Studley Road (Virginia Route 606) 0.1 miles west of Shelton Pointe Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7273 Studley Road, Mechanicsville VA 23116, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Digging In Under Fire (approx. half a mile away); Damaged but not Destroyed (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lives on the Line (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rural Plains (approx. 0.6 miles away); Totopotomoy Creek (approx. 0.6 miles away); Totopotomoy Line (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Totopotomoy Line (approx. 0.6 miles away); Totopotomoi (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.
Also see . . .
1. The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, May 29-31, 1864. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on November 29, 2014.)
2. Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield at Rural Plains. Richmond National Battlefield Park (Submitted on November 29, 2014.)
3. Totopotomoy Creek. CWSAC Battle Summary (Submitted on November 29, 2014.)
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 28, 2014
2. Attacking the High Ground Marker
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 28, 2014
3. Totopotomoy Creek
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 28, 2014
4. Rural Plains
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 28, 2014
5. Rural Plains
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 672 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 28, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
