Battle of Hanover Court House, Hanover, Hanover County, VA

Significance: 1) On May 27, 1862 Union Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter with Brig. Gen. George W. Morell's division marched at 4 A.M. from camps at New Bridge via Hundley's Corner. The column reached Pearson's Corner about noon. Porter's mission was to find and defeat a Confederate force rumored to be massing at Hanover Court House.

2) In conjunction with Porter's movement, a brigade led by Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren left its camps near Old Church at 4 A.M. to follow the River Road. Warren's column was to converge with Porter's at Hanover Court House.

3) In the meantime, Col. James H. Lane led the 28th North Carolina Infantry from near the court house on a reconnaissance toward Taliaferro's Mill.

4) Scouts alerted Lane of the approach of Federals on the Richmond Road, and he returned to the road intersection at Dr. Kinney's house in time to establish a defensive position supported by two pieces of artillery.

5) About 2 P.M, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield's brigade attacked Lane at Dr. Kinney's and after a severe fight drove the Confederates north along the road.

6) Unaware that Confederates were advancing on Ashcake Road from the direction of Slash Church, Maj. Gen. Porter ordered his main force in pursuit of Lane's North Carolinians, who retreated through the village of Hanover Court House.

7) About 3:30 P.M., Confederate Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch suddenly opened fire with a battery of artillery on Porter's rear guard and attacked with three regiments across Kersey's and J. Harris' farms.

8) A Federal brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. John H. Martindale, jogged onto the field and deployed with artillery to meet the attack. Fierce fighting erupted in J. Harris's fields.

9) Branch sent a regiment through the woods in an attempt to outflank the Federals at the P. Slaughter farm, but US reinforcements countered and drove the attackers back to their starting line.

10) Federals returned from the court house, marching along the railroad toward the sound of battle. Their approach turned the Confederate left flank and forced it back toward Peake's Depot.

11) Pressured on front and flank by superior numbers, Branch ordered a general withdrawal toward Ashland. The Federals did not pursue. Porter brought about 12,000 men into the battle against Lane's and O'Brien's 4,000. Federal casualties were 355; Confederate casualties 750.

12) Warren's brigade finally reached Hanover Court House late in the afternoon after the fighting was over; his units fanned out to destroy the Pamunkey River bridges.
Survey number: HALS VA-28
Building/structure dates: ca. 1862 Initial Construction