Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
MISSING
SEE LOCATION SECTION
Battle of Chester Station
May 10, 1864
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 15, 2009
1. Battle of Chester Station CWT Marker
Inscription.
Battle of Chester Station. May 10, 1864. On May 5, 1864, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s Union Army of the James landed at Bermuda Hundred to sever direct communication between Richmond and Petersburg. Five days later, desperate to keep the connection open, 2,000 Confederates under Gen. Robert Ransom advanced south from Drewry’s Bluff along the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (present-day U.S. Rte. 1). Three Federal infantry regiments and artillery formed a defensive line here that extended from the Winfree House east to the turnpike., In grueling 100 degree heat, the Confederates tried twice to break the line. To your left, the 9th and 38th Virginia Infantry charged down the turnpike, and part of the 169th New York Infantry gave way, abandoning that portion of the line and one cannon. The 14th, 53rd, and 57th Virginia Infantry converged from three directions to make the second assault on the Federals around the Winfree House. As the defenders’ ammunition dwindled, desperately needed Union infantry and artillery reenforcements arrived just in time, deploying directly into the Winfree House lane and along the turnpike and checking the Virginians’ advance. Outnumbered, the beleaguered Southerners began to give ground., Adding to the confusion, Federal artillery shells ignited the woods behind you. Wounded soldiers on both sides were in danger of burning to death. As the fighting dwindled, a flag of truce was agreed on to rescue them. When night fell, both sides had had enough. The Confederates retired to Drewry’s Bluff, and the Federals withdrew east to Bermuda Hundred, leaving the smoldering battlefield behind. They had failed to cut Confederate communications and remained for months on the Bermuda Hundred peninsula., (captions) , Capt. Alfred P. Rockwell’s 1st Connecticut Light Battery, posted near Winfree House, repulsing Confederate charge, Gen. Benjamin Butler . Gen Robert Ransom
On May 5, 1864, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s Union Army of the James landed at Bermuda Hundred to sever direct communication between Richmond and Petersburg. Five days later, desperate to keep the connection open, 2,000 Confederates under Gen. Robert Ransom advanced south from Drewry’s Bluff along the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (present-day U.S. Rte. 1). Three Federal infantry regiments and artillery formed a defensive line here that extended from the Winfree House east to the turnpike.
In grueling 100 degree heat, the Confederates tried twice to break the line. To your left, the 9th and 38th Virginia Infantry charged down the turnpike, and part of the 169th New York Infantry gave way, abandoning that portion of the line and one cannon. The 14th, 53rd, and 57th Virginia Infantry converged from three directions to make the second assault on the Federals around the Winfree House. As the defenders’ ammunition dwindled, desperately needed Union infantry and artillery reenforcements arrived just in time, deploying directly into the Winfree House lane and along the turnpike and checking the Virginians’ advance. Outnumbered, the beleaguered Southerners began to give ground.
Adding to the confusion, Federal artillery shells ignited the woods behind you. Wounded soldiers on both sides were in danger of burning to death. As
Click or scan to see this page online
the fighting dwindled, a flag of truce was agreed on to rescue them. When night fell, both sides had had enough. The Confederates retired to Drewry’s Bluff, and the Federals withdrew east to Bermuda Hundred, leaving the smoldering battlefield behind. They had failed to cut Confederate communications and remained for months on the Bermuda Hundred peninsula.
(captions)
Capt. Alfred P. Rockwell’s 1st Connecticut Light Battery, posted near Winfree House, repulsing Confederate charge
Gen. Benjamin Butler • Gen Robert Ransom
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 1890.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 37° 21.384′ N, 77° 25.284′ W. Marker was in Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker was on West Hundred Road (Virginia Route 10) 0.1 miles east of Parker Lane, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located in front of the Chester YMCA. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Chester VA 23831, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Battle of Chester Station
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,428 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on November 9, 2023, by Molly Thacker of Arlington, Virginia. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on November 9, 2023, by Molly Thacker of Arlington, Virginia.
