Battle of Savage Station, Sandston, Henrico County, Virginia

Significance: 1) In the afternoon, June 28, Maj. Gen. Ewell's Division and Maj. Gen. Stuart's cavalry moved to Bottom's Bridge and discovered the bridges burning. For Gen. Lee, this confirmed that Maj. Gen. McClellan's army had begun to retreat to James River.

2) During the night, the last of US forces abandoned their fortifications and withdrew toward Savage's Station. McClellan shifted Army HQ south of White Oak Swamp, leaving no one in charge of the rear guard.

3) Early morning, June 29, Lee ordered Maj. Gen. Longstreet and Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill across the Chickahominy at New Bridge to march to Darbytown Road. Lee hoped to intercept the Federal retreat.

4) Lee ordered Maj. Gen. Jackson to cross the river and attack the retreating US army. Jackson's skirmishers reached the south bank but his engineers needed twenty-four hours to rebuild the bridges.

5) Maj. Gen. Magruder pressed forward along the Ninemile and Williamsburg Roads to find Maj. Gen. Sumner's divisions drawn up in ling of battle across the Allen fields. Mid-morning, Magruder probed the position and was repulsed.

6) Held for a time in reverse, Maj. Gen. Huger continued south to the Charles City Road during a lull in the fighting.

7) Finding no room to deploy, Maj. Gen. Heintzelman ordered his corps to join the retreat. He did not inform Sumner.

8) Not finding Jackson on his left flank as expected, Magruder advanced cautiously, supported by a siege gun mounted on a railroad car. Sumner gradually withdrew and formed a new line closer to the station.

9) In late afternoon, Magruder attacked the new US line with three brigades and was again repulsed.

10) Sumner continued his fighting withdrawal until nightfall. The massive supply depot at the station was set ablaze and 2,500 wounded Federals at the general hospital were abandoned to the Confederates.

11) The US army laboriously crossed White Oak Swamp, using the main bridge, Brackett's and Fisher's fords.

12) Huger's division reached Brightwell's at dark and bivouacked. Skirmishers sparred at Jordan's Ford.

13) Maj. Gen. Longstreet and A.P. Hill camped on the Darbytown Road.

14) Maj. Gen. Holmes' division reached River Road and turned east, soon going into camp.
Survey number: HALS VA-34
Building/structure dates: before 1862 Initial Construction