Gaines' Mill Battlefield - United States Position

The Watt House at Gaines' Mill Battlefield

NPS

Dr. William F. Gaines owned and operated one of the largest farms in Hanover County. This site was named for his mill, as Dr. Gaines was the area's largest landowner at the time. His mill would ultimately lend its name to the Battle of Gaines’ Mill. Later in the war, this engagement also became known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor. The Watt House stands atop the hill at this first stop on the Gaines' Mill battlefield. Before and during the battle, it served as the headquarters for the U.S. Fifth Corps, then a field hospital. A key landmark during the fighting, the Watt House remains a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of the Civil War. Some of the most intense combat of the battle took place on this land owned by Sarah Watt in 1862.