Savage's Station, Virginia facts for kids

Savage's Station was a very important place during the American Civil War. It was like a big base for the Union Army's Army of the Potomac. Here, they kept supplies, ammunition (bullets and bombs), and had a hospital for wounded soldiers. It also served as a main office for army leaders during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862.

From Farmhouse to Army Base

General McClellan’s headquarters at Savage’s Station in 1862.

Union soldiers who became prisoners after the battle.

Savage's Station was located in Henrico County, Virginia. It was next to the Richmond and York River Railroad tracks. Even though it was called a "station," there might not have been an actual train station building there.

Instead, there was a farmhouse on a small hill near the tracks. You can see this farmhouse in old drawings and photos from the war. This farmhouse became the center of a large hospital for soldiers during and after the Battle of Seven Pines and the Seven Days Battles.

The farmhouse was also used as the main office for General George B. McClellan. He was the leader of the Union Army during the Battle of Savage's Station on June 29, 1862. The house survived this battle. However, it was burned down in 1864 by Union soldiers led by General Philip Sheridan.

The farmhouse was never rebuilt, and today, no part of it remains. But an old smokehouse from the 1800s was still there in the 1930s. It was photographed as part of a project by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This smokehouse later fell apart before the 1980s. A small brick-walled cemetery from the 1700s is still located near where the house used to be, close to the railroad tracks.

Savage's Station Today

Today, the battlefield of Savage's Station is mostly "lost" because highways cover much of it. The busiest fighting areas are now under the I-295 and I-64 highways.

However, the land where Savage's Station itself was located is still in good condition. This includes the area of the Union hospital, supply depot, and ammunition dump. The nearby highways are hard to notice when trees are full of leaves.

In the late 1980s, local people tried to protect this farmland from being built on. But their wishes were not followed by the local government. A company wanted to build a large truck stop there. But it would have been hard for trucks to get in and out safely because of the highways. This kind of business also did not fit with the quiet neighborhoods nearby.

Because of this, the land is still undeveloped today. It is currently rented out for farming. However, a real estate company now owns the property, and it is listed for sale.