Battle of Hanover Court House

Battle of Hanover Court House
Part of the American Civil War
Commencement of the battle of Hanover Ct. House. 1:45 PM. Alfred R. Waud, artist, May 27, 1862.
Date May 27, 1862 (1862-05-27) Location Hanover County, Virginia Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Fitz John Porter	Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
Strength
12,000[1]	4,000[1]
Casualties and losses
355–397	930

The Battle of Hanover Court House, also known as the Battle of Slash Church, took place on May 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War.

On May 27, elements of Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter's V Corps extended north to protect the right flank of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Union Army of the Potomac. Porter's objective was to deal with a Confederate force near Hanover Court House, which threatened the avenue of approach for Union reinforcements that were marching south from Fredericksburg. The smaller Confederate force, under Colonel Lawrence O'Bryan Branch, was defeated at Peake's Crossing after a disorganized fight.

The Union victory was moot, however, since the Union reinforcements were recalled to Fredericksburg upon word of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's rout in the Shenandoah Valley at the First Battle of Winchester.