Near Glen Allen in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Yellow Tavern
Stuart’s Last Battle
— Lee Vs. Grant - The 1864 Campaign —
While Grant and Lee fought at Spotsylvania, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan took 12,000 Federal cavalry on a raid toward Richmond. After destroying a large Confederate supply depot at Beaver Dam Station, Sheridan’s troopers met 4,000 Southern cavalrymen under Gen. J.E.B. Stuart near here at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864. Union cavalry attacked from the west and in heavy hand-to-hand fighting drove Gen. Lunsford Lomax’s Brigade from Telegraph Road before pushing northward.
Late in the day, while the Richmond local defense troops gathered to guard the capital, Sheridan attacked Stuart on this high ground. The Confederate line shattered. Stuart fell fatally wounded here while rallying his men.
Although the road to Richmond seemed open, Sheridan chose to skirt the city and rejoin Grant’s army.
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 1864.
Location. 37° 39.689′ N, 77° 27.211′ W. Marker is near Glen Allen, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker is on Telegraph Road south of Towering Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10112 Telegraph Rd, Glen Allen VA 23059, 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. Major General James Ewell Brown Stuart (a few steps from this marker); Stuart’s Mortal Wound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Battle of Yellow Tavern (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Stuart’s Mortal Wound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Liberty Golden Eagle (approx. half a mile away); Anderson Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wickham's Line (approx. 0.9 miles away); Mount Olive Baptist Church (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Allen.
More about this marker. In the center of the marker, below a portrait of Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, is a drawing depicting the action where he "was mortally wounded during the battle of Yellow Tavern, May 11, 1864." On the right side is a map detailing "In the battle's final phase, Sheridan broke the Confederate line along the Telegraph Road. He then swung north and captured Stuart's second line on this high ground."
Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 6,011 times since then and 64 times this year. Last updated on October 7, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2007, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.