Battle of Old Church | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
Union cavalry horses photographed outside the Old Church Hotel by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, June 4, 1864 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States (Union) | CSA (Confederacy) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Alfred T. A. Torbert | Matthew C. Butler | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 division | 2,000 (1 brigade)[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
90[2] | 188[2] |
The Battle of Old Church, also known as Matadequin Creek, was fought on May 30, 1864, as part of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War.
As the opposing armies faced each other across Totopotomoy Creek, a Union cavalry division under Brig. Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert collided with a cavalry brigade under Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler at Matadequin Creek, near the Old Church crossroads. After sharp dismounted fighting, the outnumbered Confederates were driven back to within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of Old Cold Harbor, which preceded the Union capture of that important crossroads the following day.