Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Read's Battalion
On the morning of June 3, Read’s gunners were again called to action. They directed an intense and accurate fire toward the advancing Federal infantry—part of General U.S. Grant’s all-out assault against Lee’s lines.
“few men fell until we reached within [eighty yards] of the enemy’s first line, when they opened upon us with canister [and] grape hurling it into our faces and mowing down our lines as wheat falls before the reaper.”
Lt. Eli Nichols
8th New York Heavy Artillery
“It was a country generally flat, with many small clearings, & thin woods, & scattered pines. No long ranges, but favorable to cross fires & smooth bore richochet firing–& I put in position every gun I had.”
Brig. Gen. E. Porter Alexander
Chief of Artillery, First Corps
Erected 2010 by Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil . In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1808.
Location. 37° 35.127′ N, 77° 17.182′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Cold Harbor Road and Anderson Wright Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mechanicsville VA 23111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle of Cold Harbor (here, next to this marker); Killing Fields (within shouting distance of this marker); Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); We Must Hold This Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Walk in the Footsteps of History (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ultimate Sacrifice (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nowhere To Go (approx. 0.2 miles away); Those People Stand No Chance (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.
More about this marker. On the upper right is a photo Maj. Read with the caption, “Major John Postell Williamson Read, formerly Chief of Police for Savannah, Georgia, commanded nearly 400 officers and men and 16 guns at Cold Harbor. The unit suffered only seven casualties.”
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location titled "Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery".
Also see . . .
1. Cold Harbor. CWSAC Battle Summary (Submitted on August 5, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
2. Richmond National Battlefield Park. (Submitted on August 5, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 804 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.