Hanover Court House Battle Virginia Pictures  

Other Names: Slash Church, Lebanon Church Maps Battlefield Maps

Location: Hanover County Battle of Hanover Court House Photo Photos

Campaign: Peninsula Campaign (March-September 1862)

Date(s): May 27, 1862

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter [US]; Brig. Gen. Lawrence O'B. Branch [CS]

Forces Engaged: Divisions

Estimated Casualties: 1,327 total (US 397; CS 930)

Description: On May 27, 1862, elements of Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps extended north to protect the right flank of McClellan’s Union army that now straddled the Chickahominy River. Porter’s objective was to cut the railroad and to open the Telegraph Road for Union reinforcements under Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell that were marching south from Fredericksburg.  Confederate forces, attempting to prevent this maneuver, were defeated just south of Hanover Courthouse after a stiff fight. The Union victory was moot, however, for McDowell’s reinforcements were recalled to Fredericksburg upon word of Banks’s rout at First Winchester. At Hanover Court House, Union forces numbered approximately 12,000, while Confederate forces were approximately 4,000.

Result(s): Union victory

Sources: National Park Service; Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.

 

 

 

The below article was a preliminary report published in a Richmond newspaper. The report was subsequently republished in New York via the New York Times. Republication, or reprinting, was common practice during the American Civil War. Furthermore, preliminary reports were often misleading and/or exaggerated.

 

THE FIGHT AT HANOVER COURT-HOUSE
                RICHMOND, Tuesday, May 27, 1862.
      A heavy skirmish occurred to-day, which lasted
from 1 to 7 this afternoon. The firing was heard here
from the direction of Hanover Court-House, and it is
believed to be in that vicinity. No particulars have
been received. The skirmish is believed in the city
to be prelude to a general engagement.
                              LATER.
      In the skirmish this afternoon, at Hanover Court-
House, the Twenty-fifth New-York and Twenty-eighth

 North Carolina were principally engaged. Eighty

 Federals were killed and wounded, and sixty captured.

The prisoners have arrived here. The Confederate

  loss is only six or eight. Nothing has yet been heard

of the skirmish of attles station  [present-day Atlee,

  Hanover County, Virginia]

                      THE NEW YORK TIMES
                       Published: June 8, 1862