A Splendid Field of Battle
Union commanders chose an ideal location to fight their last battle of the Seven Days. As many as 40 cannon covered the one-half-mile front, stretching from the slopes of Crew’s Run on your left to a similar drop to Western Run on your right. Nearly 80,000 Union soldiers spread out behind or in support of the guns. Open cultivated fields dotted by shocks of harvested wheat stretched out for half a mile. It was one of the strongest positions held by either army during the war.
Throughout July 1, Lee gathered his army out of sight in the distant woods, its numbers reduced to 70,000. By late afternoon only the sounds of scattered artillery fire filled the air. Then poor communication combined with misunderstanding of orders led to repeated Confederate attacks. Southern troops found themselves funneled together and forced to charge straight into the Federal batteries. The ground to your front bore witness to carnage on a grand scale. Over 30,000 Confederates took part in the advances. By day’s end the battle claimed 8,000 casualties; over half wore gray.
“There was a splendid field of battle on the high plateau where the greater part of the troops, artillery, etc. were placed. It was a magnificent sight….”
Andrew A. Humphreys, chief topographical engineer for the Union Army
Marker can be reached from Willis Church Road (Virginia Route 156) 0.3 miles south of Carters Milll Road, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
