Battle of Old Church

I had off today and went in search of another Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) battlefield that I haven't been too. I settled on Old Church. (May 30th 1864) Like Morton's Ford (which I'd mentioned on another post) there's no official markers or signs. Old Church was part of the Overland Campaign.

Robert E. Lee sent Confederate cavalrymen and infantry to protect a road junction near Richmond. While General Philip Sheridan asked  Gen. Alfred Torbert to screen the roads near the Union lines.

Sheridan made his headquarters here at the Old Church Tavern

 

  

Sign near the Tavern.

(Tavern is private property. Taken from road)

Torbert assigned the task to Col. Thomas Devin and the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The 17th Pennsylvania was camped near Old Church. The Confederates attacked and pushed the 17th Pennsylvania across the creek. Later in the battle, Torbert assigned the rest of his division. The battle was a stalemate until Custer's Michigan cavalry pushed across both sides of the creek. 

Modern bridge over Matadequin Creek. 

Custer's men forged both sides of bridge.

A good source for information on the battle is Gordon Rhea's book, Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26 – June 3, 1864. More information on the tavern can be found: here.