With the Union in possession of the Brock Road/Orange Plank Road intersection, General Grant made the decision to move forward to Spotsylvania Court House. During the night of May 6 both armies began to move toward Spotsylvania. With the Union in possession of the Brock Road, the blue-clad soldiers had a shorter route to Spotsylvania, but the Confederates successfully slowed the Union advance on May 7 at Todd's Tavern. This delaying action allowed the Southern infantry the opportunity to win the race to Spotsylvania.
Flavius Ballard purchased Todd's Tavern from the Todd family in 1848. The tavern was 1 1/2 stories and made of wood with flanking chimneys and a front porch. A barn-like structure appears in this photo to the left of the tavern. The tavern served a variety of purposes: residence, tavern, post office, and store. The tavern was destroyed prior to 1884.
