What if Seven Pines had gone the other way?

[Pvt. Sam Dile]

What if Casey had been able to hold?

[gary]

If this implies that Uncle Joe had actually won and wasn't injured, Bobby Lee wouldn't have been placed in command of the ANV. Little Mac would have been shaken by the destruction of a corps and Uncle Joe wouldn't have advanced any further. He'd find a reason to retreat again and give up Richmond to save his army.

[Pvt. Sam Dile]

Gary,
Not try to pick on you by any means but what I am referring to is the first day of this specific action and more specifically the first four hours of the battle (12:30 to 4:30) of 31 May, 1862.
The actions that took place on the Williamsburg stage road at the twin houses between D.H. Hill and Silas Casey's troops.
Most folks only write or read about the next days actions and simply say Casey fled the field and blow right over the first days actions.
What if Hill had been stopped and driven back?

[cw1865]

The Peninsula Campaign is odd at times. McClellan isn't confident attacking and Johnston isn't confident defending!

But of course this is a what if? If Casey holds and delivers a decisive rout, there is a good chance Johnston will choose to abandon Richmond, or at the very least to go to the other side of the James.

[Pvt. Sam Dile]

McClellan? What about Heintzelman? In my opinion he is the reason seven pines was lost on the first day and endangered dang near the whole army!

[cw1865]

Its still McClellan's decision to back out though. To a certain extent Seven Pines gives him the excuse he was looking for to do just that

[Pvt. Sam Dile]

Then we agree! Heintzelclown was an negligent A**!