Fighting at the Totopotomoy

During the Civil War, this intersection, known as Polly Hundley’s Corner, connected roads leading to Atlee’s Station, the Pamunkey River, Mechanicsville, and Hanover Courthouse, and stood near routes toward Richmond and Polegreen Church. Fighting along Totopotomoy Creek near here linked the battles of North Anna and Cold Harbor. Intelligence gathered at the Battle of Enon Church on May 28, 1864, enabled Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to place his army across Union Gen. U.S. Grant’s path, and from May 28 to May 30 the two armies faced each other behind strong entrenchments. The Federal army marched past Enon Church and through this intersection on its way to Totopotomoy Creek, with Union artillery placed on the ridge on both sides of the road. Across the creek, Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s Confederate division blocked Gen. Winfield S. Hancock’s Union Second Corps. Late on May 30, Grant ordered a strong probe in this area, and Gen. Francis C. Barlow’s Union division crossed the creek and occupied Breckinridge’s entrenchments before withdrawing at dark. Most of that fighting took place just beyond the Shelton House, called Rural Plains, the battlefield’s most prominent landmark. Patrick Henry was married there in 1754, and Hancock established his headquarters there 110 years later on May 30. Cannon and mortars were positioned in the yard, a signal station on the roof drew Confederate artillery fire that struck the house at least 50 times, and several members of the Shelton family remained inside throughout the battle. The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek involved extensive entrenching and limited fighting before the armies moved on to Cold Harbor.

Mechanicsville, Virginia · United States