A Splendid Field of Battle - Glendale VA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 37° 24.779 W 077° 15.016
18S E 300854 N 4143064
A Splendid Field of Battle marker is located at 9175 Willis Church Road, Henrico VA 23231. This is on the Malvern Hill Battlefield, Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Waymark Code: WM19N86
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 03/21/2024
Views: 0
TEXT
A Splendid Field of Battle-Richmond National Battlefield Park--
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.
Group that erected the marker: National Park Service
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
9175 Willis Church Road (Virginia Route 156)
Glendale, VA United States
23231
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