Savage's Station, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Savage's Station was the wartime name of a supply depot
, ammunition
dump, field hospital
, and command headquarters of the Army of the Potomac
during the Peninsula Campaign
of the American Civil War
. Savage's Station was located in Henrico County, Virginia
on what was the Richmond and York River Railroad
, however the historical department of the Norfolk Southern Railroad, the railroad track's current owner, has no record that an actual train station or station house ever existed on the property. A farmhouse is known to have been located in a copse of trees on a small knoll next to the railroad track and is visible in several period drawings and photographs made during the war. The house served as the nucleous of a large field hospital during and after the battle of Seven Pines
and the Seven Days Battles
. The house also functioned as General George B. McClellan
's headquarters during the battle of Savage's Station
on June
29, 1862. Although the house survived the battle in 1862, it was burned by Federal
cavalry
under General Philip H. Sheridan in 1864. The house appears to have never been rebuilt, no trace of it it remains today, however a smokehouse from the 1800s still existed on the property as late as the 1930s when it was photographed during a survey of local historical sturctures as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps
. The smokehouse fell into ruin and collapsed sometime prior to the 1980s. A small brick-walled cemetery
from the 18th century
still sits near the former location of the house not far from the railroad track.
Today the battlefield of Savage's Station is considered "lost" by preservationists, the area of heavist infantry fighting being covered by the nearby cloverleaf interchange of interstate highways I-295 and I-64. However the land that comprised Savage Station itself, i.e., the Union field hosptial, supply depot, ammunition dump and rear areas of the Federal battleline, remains in a remarkably prestine condition, the nearby interchage barely noticable during seasons when the foliage is in full bloom.
In the late 1980s, a last ditch effort by local residents attempted to preserve the rolling farmland from being rezoned for commerical uses, but their desires were overuled by the Henrico Country Board of Commissioners. A developer had proposed to build a large truckstop and cargo transfer station on the property, but the close proximity of the interchange would have made reasonable and safe ingress and egress to the property difficult. Such a use would have also clashed with the bucolic residential neighborhoods in the surrounding area. As such, to this day the land remains undeveloped, and is now under lease for agricultural purposes, however the property is currently owned by a prominent Richmond area real estate holding company and is listed for sale. Savage's Station Savage's Station
Supply depot
Supply depots are a type of military installation used by armies to store battlefield supplies temporarily on or near the front lines until they can be distributed to army units....
, ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
dump, field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
, and command headquarters of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
during the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Savage's Station was located in Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on what was the Richmond and York River Railroad
Richmond and York River Railroad
Richmond and York River Railroad was completed between Richmond, Virginia and West Point, Virginia in 1861. The western terminus was adjacent to Richmond's Tobacco Row...
, however the historical department of the Norfolk Southern Railroad, the railroad track's current owner, has no record that an actual train station or station house ever existed on the property. A farmhouse is known to have been located in a copse of trees on a small knoll next to the railroad track and is visible in several period drawings and photographs made during the war. The house served as the nucleous of a large field hospital during and after the battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
and the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
. The house also functioned as General George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
's headquarters during the battle of Savage's Station
Battle of Savage's Station
The Battle of Savage's Station took place on June 29, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as fourth of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. The main body of the Union Army of the Potomac began a general withdrawal toward the James River. Confederate Brig. Gen. John B. Magruder pursued...
on June
June
June is the sixth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of the four months with a length of 30 days. Ovid provides two etymologies for June's name in his poem concerning the months entitled the Fasti...
29, 1862. Although the house survived the battle in 1862, it was burned by Federal
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
under General Philip H. Sheridan in 1864. The house appears to have never been rebuilt, no trace of it it remains today, however a smokehouse from the 1800s still existed on the property as late as the 1930s when it was photographed during a survey of local historical sturctures as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. The smokehouse fell into ruin and collapsed sometime prior to the 1980s. A small brick-walled cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
from the 18th century
18th century
The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar.During the 18th century, the Enlightenment culminated in the French and American revolutions. Philosophy and science increased in prominence. Philosophers were dreaming about a better age without the Christian fundamentalism of...
still sits near the former location of the house not far from the railroad track.
Today the battlefield of Savage's Station is considered "lost" by preservationists, the area of heavist infantry fighting being covered by the nearby cloverleaf interchange of interstate highways I-295 and I-64. However the land that comprised Savage Station itself, i.e., the Union field hosptial, supply depot, ammunition dump and rear areas of the Federal battleline, remains in a remarkably prestine condition, the nearby interchage barely noticable during seasons when the foliage is in full bloom.
In the late 1980s, a last ditch effort by local residents attempted to preserve the rolling farmland from being rezoned for commerical uses, but their desires were overuled by the Henrico Country Board of Commissioners. A developer had proposed to build a large truckstop and cargo transfer station on the property, but the close proximity of the interchange would have made reasonable and safe ingress and egress to the property difficult. Such a use would have also clashed with the bucolic residential neighborhoods in the surrounding area. As such, to this day the land remains undeveloped, and is now under lease for agricultural purposes, however the property is currently owned by a prominent Richmond area real estate holding company and is listed for sale. Savage's Station Savage's Station