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U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS
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JEB STUART'S RIDE
AROUND MCCLELLAN
(PAGE 4 of 11)
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Route
(in red)
from Kilby's Station to Hanover Court House
 (F)
Hanover Court House
Following the Route Numbers:
Following Route 646 for approximately two miles, we turn
left onto Route 54, Patrick Henry Road (unmarked), and almost immediately
turn right, back onto Route 646, St. Paul's Church Road.
We then turn onto U.S. Route 301 / State Route 2 at Hanover Court House.
We park in the Hanover Tavern Parking Lot, almost immediately on the right
and across from the Court House. A Civil War Trails sign marks the entrance
to the parking lot.
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 (F)
Hanover Tavern
It was here that Stuart's forces had their first encounter with Federal troops.
The 6th U.S. Cavalry under Captain J. Irvin Gregg had just entered the town in
order to rest. Stuart sent Fitz Lee and the 1st Virginia Cavalry southward to
cut off the Federal's retreat and then entered the town with his main force.
The Federals quickly mounted and fled down Richmond Stage Road (now State Route
301).
Route
(in red)
from Hanover Court House,
upper left, to Linney's Corner, lower Right.
Following the Route Numbers:
Heading south on 301/2, from Hanover Court House, less than one-half
mile, we cross over Mechum Creek.
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 (G)
Mechump's Creek.
The swampy area at Mechump's Creek prevented Fitz Lee from cutting off the
Federal retreat. They did manage to catch a straggler and Stuart sent him back
to his unit with a note for the 6th U.S. Cavalry Commander stating his desire
to meet the Sixth Cavalry in a fair hand-to-hand fight some day.
... I proceeded, therefore, via Hanover Court-House, upon the route to
Old Church. Upon reaching the vicinity of Hanover Court-House I
found it in possession of the enemy; but very little could be ascertained
about the strength and nature of his force. I therefore sent Col.
Fitz. Lee's regiment (First Virginia Cavalry) to make a detour to the
right and reach the enemy's route behind him, to ascertain his force
here and crush it, if possible; but the enemy, proving afterward to be
150 cavalry, did not tarry long, but left, my column following slowly
down, expecting every moment to hurl him upon Lee; but owing to a
bad marsh Colonel Lee did not reach the intersection of roads in time,
and the cavalry (the Regular Sixth) passed on in the direction of
Mechanicsville. This course deviating too much from our direction,
after the capture of a sergeant they were allowed to proceed without
interruption on their way ...
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PAGE FIVE
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Civil War Photos
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Stuart's Ride
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