Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
1. Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery Marker
On the morning of June 3, Read’s gunners were again called to action. Their intense and accurate fire was directed towards the advancing Federal infantry that were part of General U.S. Grant’s all out assault against Lee’s lines. Lieutenant Eli Nichols of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery recalled the devastation caused by these Confederate artillerists:
“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.”
Erected by Richmond National Battlefield Park - National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • 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 1864.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Walk in the Footsteps of History (here, next to this marker); We Must Hold This Line (here, next to this marker); Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Killing Fields (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Cold Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); Read's Battalion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ultimate Sacrifice (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nowhere To Go (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.
More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains a photograph of Maj. Read, with the caption “Major John Postell Williamson Read, formerly Chief of Police for Savannah, Georgia, commanded nearly
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
2. Marker on the Cold Harbor Battlefield
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "Read's Battalion".
Also see . . .
1. Cold Harbor. CMSAC Battle Summaries webpage. (Submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. Cold Harbor. Richmond National Battlefield. (Submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. Cold Harbor Battlefield Virtual Tour by Markers. This is one of the many markers along the walking trail, extended loop trail, and auto tour route in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. (Submitted on March 9, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
3. Read’s Battalion CSA Artillery
Artillery placed here guarded Richmond from the Union advance. These guns helped stop several Federal frontal assaults during the Battle of Cold Harbor in June of 1864.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
4. Richmond National Battlefield Park
Marker is located near the Visitor Center in the Cold Harbor Battlefield Unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,074 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on January 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 4, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
