Overview
The Battle of Haw’s Shop took place during Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign in Virginia. On March 10, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States. Grant developed a strategy that focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia rather than capturing specific geographic locations.
Grant launched the Overland Campaign on May 4, when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River and Rapidan River. In May, Union and Confederate forces fought at the Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and Battle of North Anna. Despite heavy Union casualties, Grant continued moving south and east, forcing Lee to reposition his army to defend Richmond.
On May 27, Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalrymen attempting to cross the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and Crump’s Creek. Fighting continued on May 28 at the Battle of Haw’s Shop.
Union General David Gregg and General Alfred Torbert commanded two cavalry divisions from the Army of the Potomac. Confederate General Wade Hampton and General Fitzhugh Lee commanded cavalry divisions from the Army of Northern Virginia. The battle lasted about seven hours as Union soldiers tried to cross the Pamunkey River. Confederate infantry eventually arrived and reinforced the Southern position, helping repel the Union forces.
The Battle of Haw’s Shop ended inconclusively, but fighting continued as part of the larger Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. Although Confederate forces eventually held the battlefield at Totopotomoy Creek, they failed to stop Grant’s advance farther south. Instead of retreating after suffering heavy casualties, Grant continued his advance toward Richmond.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Battle of Enon Church.
- Date: May 28, 1864.
- Location: Hanover County, Virginia.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade, Winfield Scott Hancock, Gouverneur K. Warren.
- USA Commanders: David M. Gregg, Alfred Torbert.
- CSA Commanders: Fitzhugh Lee, Wade Hampton.
- Who Won: The Battle of Haw’s Shop was inconclusive.
- Campaign: Overland Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, May–August, 1864.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: 365 killed, wounded, captured, or missing.
- Forces Engaged: 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions, Army of the Potomac.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 4,000.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: 378 killed, wounded, captured, or missing.
- Forces Engaged: Cavalry divisions, Army of Northern Virginia.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 4,500.
Significance
The Battle of Haw’s Shop is important to American History because of the role it played in Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign and the larger Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. Although Confederate infantry reinforced the Southern cavalry and helped repel the Union forces, the battle ended inconclusively. More importantly, the fighting did not stop Grant’s movement toward Richmond, forcing Robert E. Lee to continue moving his army to defend the city.
History
Grant in Charge
On March 10, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States. Grant brought with him, from his successes in the western theater of the war, a reputation for the doggedness Lincoln was seeking. Unlike other Union generals, Grant was tenacious.
The Overland Campaign — Grant Pursues Lee
Upon his arrival in Washington, Grant drafted a plan to get the various Union armies in the field to act in concert. He also devised his Overland Campaign to invade east-central Virginia. Unlike previous campaigns into that area, Grant’s offensive focused on defeating Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia rather than capturing or occupying geographic locations. Grant instructed General George Meade, who commanded the Army of the Potomac, “Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.” Grant realized that with the superior resources he had at his disposal, Lee would lose a war of attrition, as long as Union forces persistently engaged the Confederate army.
Overland Campaign
On May 4, 1864, Grant launched the Overland Campaign, when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. Although Meade nominally commanded the Army of the Potomac, Grant accompanied the army in the field so he could supervise overall campaign operations.
Throughout the month of May, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia slugged it out in a series of battles including the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5–7), Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21), and the Battle of North Anna (May 23–26). Although the Confederates inflicted high casualties on the Federals during those battles, Grant continued his strategy of moving south and east (to Lee’s right) and then re-engaging. Grant’s moves forced Lee to reposition his lines continually to defend Richmond.
May 27, 1864 — Clash at Haw’s Shop
On May 27, 1864, Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalrymen as they attempted to cross the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and at Crump’s Creek. The following day, cavalry forces continued to fight at the Battle of Haw’s Shop, which is also known as the Battle of Enon Church.
Two cavalry divisions, the 1st and 2nd, of the Union’s Army of the Potomac engaged two cavalry divisions of the South’s Army of Northern Virginia. Brigadier Generals Alfred Torbert and David Gregg commanded the Northern troops, while Major Generals Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee led the Southern forces.
Confederate Infantry Reinforces the Cavalry
The battle raged for seven hours, with Northern soldiers attempting to ford the Pamunkey River. Eventually, Southern infantry arrived on the battlefield, reinforcing the Confederate position and repulsing the Federals. The North endured 344 casualties, while the South lost approximately 400 men killed, wounded, captured, or missing.
Aftermath
The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek continued to rage the next day. Confederate soldiers fortified the south bank of Totopotomoy Creek, and on May 29, Union forces launched several probes to establish the location of the Confederates’ position. On May 30, the Union’s 2nd Corps drove a portion of the Confederate soldiers from their entrenchments, gaining a foothold on the south side of Totopotomoy Creek. As the 2nd Corps advanced, Confederate soldiers, under the command of Jubal Early, attacked the Union left, driving the Northerners back. The engagement ended that evening, bringing the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek to a conclusion.
While the Battle of Haw’s Shop ended in a virtual draw, the larger Battle of Totopotomoy Creek was a technical victory for the Confederates. Southerners remained in possession of the battlefield at the engagement’s end. Confederates suffered 1,100 men killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The Northerners sustained a similar number of casualties. Despite these accomplishments, the Confederates did not stop Grant’s continued advance farther south. Grant did not retreat as earlier Union generals had; instead, he continued to press Lee.
Timeline
- 1864, March 10 — President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States.
- 1864, May 4 — Grant launched his Overland Campaign when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock River and the Rapidan River.
- 1864, May 5–7 — The inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness took place.
- 1864, May 11 — Union forces won the Battle of Yellow Tavern.
- 1864, May 8–21 — The inconclusive Battle of Spotsylvania Court House took place.
- 1864, May 23–26 — The inconclusive Battle of North Anna took place.
- 1864, May 27 — Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalrymen crossing the Pamunkey River at Dabney’s Ferry and Crump’s Creek.
- 1864, May 28 — Union and Confederate cavalry fought the Battle of Haw’s Shop for about seven hours before Confederate infantry reinforced the Southern position.
- 1864, May 29 — Union forces launched several probes to find Confederate positions along Totopotomoy Creek.
- 1864, May 30
- The Union 2nd Corps drove Confederate troops from some entrenchments and gained a foothold south of Totopotomoy Creek.
- Confederate troops under Jubal Early attacked the Union left and forced the Union troops back.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Haw’s Shop (1864) — The Battle of Haw’s Shop was fought on May 28, 1864, in Hanover County, Virginia, during Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. Confederate forces intercepted Union cavalry attempting to cross the Pamunkey River, leading to a seven-hour cavalry engagement. Union troops tried to force their way across the river, but Confederate infantry arrived and helped repel the Federals. The battle ended inconclusively and was part of the larger Battle of Totopotomoy Creek.
Alignment
The Battle of Haw’s Shop is part of the following AP US History sections:
