Gavrilo Sartorys
Private
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2019
- Location
- Orléans, France
INTRODUCTION :
* During the Seven Days battles, Lee's greatest failure as an army commander was (in my opinion) to communicate properly with too many subordinates. As a result, the Federals had the upper hand at the tactical level in the majority of the battles fought near Richmond, while inflicting severe losses to their Confederate counterparts.
* These losses could have been avoided, or at least reduced, if a good army organization had been put in place before the fight. However, many problems come to my mind when asking myself how could it be possible to create a near-perfect military tool with so much "difficult" officers and troops from different states mixing together.
* The following order of battle is my first try, I'm mainly dealing with infantry (sub-)units for the moment. Anyone is allowed to rearrange it and propose another solution.
JUNE 11 - 23, 1862
* ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA : GEN "Bobby" Lee (~88,000)
* * RIGHT WING (ARMY OF THE PENINSULA) : MG "Prince John" Magruder (~25,500)
* * * D. R. Jones' Division : MG "Neighbor" Jones (~11,500)
* * * * * Ripley's Brigade : 6/23/27/28/44/48 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Toombs' Brigade : 2/10/15/17/20/53 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Cobb's Brigade : 3/4/16/22/24 GA + Cobb's (GA) Legion (~3,000)
* * * * * Wright's Brigade : 1/7/8/9/11 GA + 2 GA Battalion (~2,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 8 Batteries (32 guns)
* * * McLaws' Division : MG Lafayette McLaws (~14,000)
* * * * * Kershaw's Brigade : 2/3/5/6/7/8 SC + 4 SC Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Semmes' Brigade : 1/2/5/10/14 LA + 1 LA Zouaves Battalion + 3 LA Battalion (~3,500)
* * * * * Griffith's Brigade : 12/13/17/18/19/21 MS + 2 MS Battalion (~4,000)
* * * * * Featherston's Brigade : 1/7/14 TN + 2/11 MS + 2 FL (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 10 Batteries (38 guns)
* * CENTER WING (ARMY OF THE POTOMAC) : MG "Pete" Longstreet (~25,000)
* * * A. P. Hill's Light Division : MG A. P. Hill (~12,500)
* * * * * J. R. Anderson's Brigade : 14/18/19/35/45/49 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Branch's Brigade : 6/7/18/28/33/37 NC (~3,000)
* * * * * Pender's Brigade : 15/16/22/34/38 NC (~3,000)
* * * * * Gregg's Brigade : 1/12/13/14 SC + 1/2 SC Rifles (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 12 Batteries (51 guns)
* * * Anderson's Division : BG "Fighting Dick" Anderson (~12,500)
* * * * * Archer's Brigade : 1/3/7/11/17/24 VA (~2,500)
* * * * * Pickett's Brigade : 8/18/19/28/56 VA + 22 VA Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Wilcox's Brigade : 8/9/10/11/13/14 AL (~3,500)
* * * * * Texas (Hood's) Brigade : 1/4/5 TX + 3 AK + 2 AK Battalion + Hampton's (SC) Legion + Palmetto (SC) Sharpshooters (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 10 Batteries (41 guns)
* * LEFT WING (ARMY OF THE VALLEY) : MG "Stonewall" Jackson (~23,500)
* * * Ewell's Division (consolidated) : MG "Baldy" Ewell (~14,500)
* * * * * Stonewall (Winder's) Brigade : 2/4/5/27/33 VA + 1 VA Battalion (~1,500)
* * * * * J. R. Jones' Brigade : 10/21/23/37/42/48 VA (~3,000)
* * * * * Elzey's Brigade : 13/25/31/44/52/58 VA (~1,500)
* * * * * Lawton's Brigade : 13/26/31/38/60/61 GA (~4,000)
* * * * * Taylor's Brigade : 6/7/8/9 LA + 1 LA Special Battalion + 16 MS (~2,500)
* * * * * Trimble's Brigade : 12/21 GA + 21 NC + 1 NC Sharpshooters + 15 AL + 1 MD (~2,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (32 guns)
* * * D. H. Hill's Division (attached) : MG D. H. Hill (~9,000)
* * * * * Garland's Brigade : 2/12/13/20/23 NC (~2,500)
* * * * * G. B. Anderson's Brigade : 1/2/3/4/14/30 NC (~3,500)
* * * * * Rodes' Brigade : 3/5/6/12/13/26 AL + 5 AL Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (30 guns)
* * RESERVE WING (DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA) : MG "Granny" Holmes (~14,000)
* * * Huger's Division : MG Benjamin Huger (~6,500)
* * * * * Ransom's Brigade : 24/25/26/35/48/49 NC (~4,000)
* * * * * Walker's Brigade : 27/43/45/46/50 NC (~2,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 9 Batteries (46 guns)
* * * Whiting's Division : BG "Billy" Whiting (~7,500)
* * * * * Field's Brigade : 15/32/40/47/55/60 VA (~2,500)
* * * * * Mahone's Brigade : 6/12/16/30/41/49 VA (~3,000)
* * * * * Armistead's Brigade : 9/14/38/53/57 VA + 5 VA Battalion (~2,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (28 guns)
EXPLANATIONS :
* Lee divides his army into four wings, three in action and one at reserve. These wings are commanded by the highest officers in the area : MG Theophilus H. Holmes, MG John B. Magruder, MG James Longstreet and MG Thomas J. Jackson. Each of this officers had control of divisions, which can be detached to other commanders temporarily (D. H. Hill's Division, for example, originally belonging to Longstreet's wing, is sent here to the Valley in order to link with Jackson and to get Lawton's Brigade from Ewell's Division).
* The divisions are commanded by senior officers :
- MGs Benjamin Huger, D. R. Jones, Richard S. Ewell, D. H. Hill, Lafayette McLaws, A. P. Hill
- BGs R. H. Anderson and W. H. C. Whiting
These commanders are in charge of two (Huger) to six (Ewell) brigades, ranging from 6,500 to 14,500 men.
* By consolidating the brigades to five or six regiments each, I want to provide a more centralized command structure with as less subordinate as possible. At the Seven Days, Lee was indeed communicating his orders to seven different commanders at least, sometimes with seniority problems.
* Holmes is the oldest subordinate on the field and, while his skills are respected by President Davis, he didn't prove to be a dependable commander throughout the war. I assigned him to the Reserve Wing in command of the two smallest divisions of the Army, as an extra-force in case of general engagement.
* Magruder is a deceptive master when entrenched and is a faithful warrior, following clear orders. He needs to prove his ability in attack, while commanding a large amount of men. Both D. R. Jones and McLaws, his subordinates, are competent officers.
* Longstreet is an excellent tactician, he commands the main body of the army. MG A. P. Hill is a tough and charismatic leader but can be a "difficult" subordinate for Longstreet. Manwhile, Longstreet could trust BG R. H. Anderson, nicknamed "Fighting Dick", who succeeds in command of Longstreet's old division.
* Jackson is a legend but his Valley campaign costed him both physical and mental strengthes. That's why all of his command was gathered in Ewell's Division as a lone unit, able to act as top subordinate and respond to Lee's orders if Jackson cannot be ready to attack. In this case, D. H. Hill's Division would return to Longstreet's wing, getting Lawton's Brigade from the Valley District. Ewell follows clear orders and is a superb tactician. D. H. Hill is a very talented commander but often get troubles with his superiors (except for Jackson, his brother-in-law).
* Facing the Army of the Potomac with such an organization, GEN Lee should be able to put more effectively in action his troops and could be able to destroy a part of the Fifth Corps (if not the totality), while threatening McClellan's supply base and escape road to Harrison's Landing.
* Of course, we would never know but this can be interesting to imagine what would happen :
BATTLES :
June 25 :
* McClellan orders Heintzelman to make a demonstration with some elements of the Third Corps. Holmes' Command, entrenched at Oak Grove, repulses the attack and counter-attacks with Huger's Division : minimal losses on both sides.
June 26 :
* Longstreet is assigned to attack Fitz-John Porter's Fifth Corps at Mechanicsville. Jackson is ordered to move first by the North but he doesn't attack and Longstreet launches A. P. Hill's Light Division against entrenched Federals and is savagely repulsed. Realizing that Jackson is no more operational to achieve his mission, Lee orders directly to Ewell to attack with all his forces in order to divert Porter while D. H. Hill's Division, reeinforced by the adjunction of Lawton's Brigade, reaches Longstreet's wing. The Fifth Corps resists desperately against the 10,500 men from Ewell's Division and Porter asks McClellan reinforcements from the other federal corps, south of the Chickahominy River. To prevent this, Lee has ordered to Magruder to demonstrate against the Federals in this area, and McClellan receives reports from Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes and Franklin telling that the ennemy is preparing an attack in force.
* McClellan, convinced that Lee outnumbers him, orders Porter to resist until dusk and to fall back then, while the Sixth Corps would link with Porter's troops and the whole army would proceed to retreat down to Harrison's Landing. Finally, Lee lauch a general attack with A. P. Hill's, D. H. Hill's and Anderson's divisions against Porter, more than 35,000 Confederates against 20,000 Federals without support, nearly out of ammunition. Porter decides to make a stand and the Fifth Corps is finally annihilated by a flank attack lauched by Ewell, acting as semi-independent commander on the back of his ennemy. With some 6,000 men, Ewell manages to cut the link between Porter and McClellan and surrounds the Fifth Corps.
* At night, Lee occupies Mechanicsville with Longstreet's wing. Having destroyed the whole Fifth Corps (25,000 men strong) and having lost less than 10,000 men, he won the day. Lee expected McClellan's reaction and prepares to pursuit with Magruder and Longstreet, south of the river, and with Ewell and D. H. Hill, on the north side. Huger's Division from Holmes' wing is escorting the Federal prisoners while Whiting's Division is temporarily attached to Longstreet' wing.
June 27 :
* McClellan urges the Fourth Corps towards Harrison's Landing while the remaining corps extend in defensive line aroud Glendale, expecting an attack.
June 28 :
* Lee, advised by Longstreet, seeks to avoid another costly assault, and tries to uncircle the Army of the Potomac by the north. Ewell crosses the river at White Oak Swamp and moves beyond the federal lines, followed by D. H. Hill. He is ordered to go south and cut the link between the Fourth Corps and the rest of the federal troops. D. H. Hill's Division encounters Franklin's Sixth Corps and a savage fight occurs. The Confederates, blocked in the swamp, are bloodily repulsed but Franklin doesn't counter-attack, fearing a trap. Ewell reaches Keyes' rearguard and begin to entrench between the two parts of the Union army.
* Having learned of D. H. Hill's defeat against Franklin, Ewell urges desperately Lee for help. Longstreet, supported by Magruder, proposes Lee to send Magruder' wing to Malvern Hill in order to get ground advantage to lauch a major assault. Lee agrees and Whiting's Division, temporarily attached, starts moving fast to Malvern Hill, while Longstreet is assigned to a deceiving task to prevent any federal movement in this area. D. H. Hill, unable to reach Ewell's position, is ordered by Lee to act as Longstreet, mounting false attacks from the north in order to maintain pressure on McClellan and to prevent the destruction of Ewell's Division.
June 29 :
* Whiting's Division, as the vanguard of Magruder's wing, reaches Malvern Hill at dawn but encounters stiffen resistance from Hooker's Division (3rd Corps), who had been ordered by McClellan to establish a new line of defense on top of the hill. The Federals successfully repulse Whiting's assault but are soon outnumbered by the rest of Magruder's wing. McClellan, having loss ground, orders Franklin, Heintzelman and Sumner to gather their divisions and prepare retreating in hurry. While Heintzelman leads the way to join Keyes at Harrison's Landing, Sumner and Franklin are supposed to maintain a defensive line against the Confederates. Magruder starts to rally more and more men at Malvern Hill and launch his troops on afternoon against Sedgwick's Division (2nd Corps) and Kearny's Division (3rd Corps). TheFederals stand bravely and inflict high casualties to their attackers but are forced to fall back at Frayser's Farm. Hooker's Division is separated from the main body of the army and is soon joined by Richardson's Division (2nd Corps), led by McClellan himself, trying to maintain the escape road open until nightfall.
June 30
* Lee, despite Longstreet's advise to wait, orders a general attack on every lines. The Federals are uncircled with few hope of escape. After a desperate resistance, many union soldiers begin to surrender and Sumner's line, in front of Longstreet's wing collapses, allowing the Confederate to split the Army of the Potomac and strike on the rear of Franklin, who was dealing with D. H. Hill at White Oak Swamp. The remnants of Hooker's and Richardson's Brigade, under McClellan direct command, leave the battlefield. Sumner, trying to rally the troops, is killed. Heintzelman is surrounded with Kearny's Division by Magruder's wing, forcing him to surrender. Franklin tries to escape with W. F. Smith's Division but is blocked by D. H. Hill advance and is soon reached by A. P. Hill's Light Division.
* Lee wants to pursue McClellan but his troops are exhausted by these fighting week. Finally, Magruder forms a task force, leading D. H. Hill's and Whiting's Divisions in order to join Ewell and to destroy the rest of the Army of the Potomac.
* McClellan conducts his two small divisions of 10,000 men towards Harrison's Landing and reach Ewell's position on the way. Ewell, having no idea of the size of this federal force, prepares for defense. McClellan, believing that Ewell is about to attack him, goes east and makes a detour to finally link with Keyes at Harrison's Landing, gathering a force of 25,000 men. D. H. Hill, leading the pursuit, blames Ewell for his inaction and continues his way south but realizes that the Federals are well entrenched and too numerous for him. He fall back to Ewell and afterwards, the main body of the army regroup with them.
CONCLUSION :
* With this command structure, and assuming that generals are acting like they originally acted in history, we can imagine that Lee's battleplan would have worked with more efficiency (not perfectly though) : I can at least count 15,000 to 20,000 casualties for the ANV. For the Army of the Potomac, this is a disaster, with the loss of nearly four of the five corps (perhaps 50,000 to 65,000 men killed, wounded or captured).
* During the Seven Days battles, Lee's greatest failure as an army commander was (in my opinion) to communicate properly with too many subordinates. As a result, the Federals had the upper hand at the tactical level in the majority of the battles fought near Richmond, while inflicting severe losses to their Confederate counterparts.
* These losses could have been avoided, or at least reduced, if a good army organization had been put in place before the fight. However, many problems come to my mind when asking myself how could it be possible to create a near-perfect military tool with so much "difficult" officers and troops from different states mixing together.
* The following order of battle is my first try, I'm mainly dealing with infantry (sub-)units for the moment. Anyone is allowed to rearrange it and propose another solution.
JUNE 11 - 23, 1862
* ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA : GEN "Bobby" Lee (~88,000)
* * RIGHT WING (ARMY OF THE PENINSULA) : MG "Prince John" Magruder (~25,500)
* * * D. R. Jones' Division : MG "Neighbor" Jones (~11,500)
* * * * * Ripley's Brigade : 6/23/27/28/44/48 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Toombs' Brigade : 2/10/15/17/20/53 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Cobb's Brigade : 3/4/16/22/24 GA + Cobb's (GA) Legion (~3,000)
* * * * * Wright's Brigade : 1/7/8/9/11 GA + 2 GA Battalion (~2,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 8 Batteries (32 guns)
* * * McLaws' Division : MG Lafayette McLaws (~14,000)
* * * * * Kershaw's Brigade : 2/3/5/6/7/8 SC + 4 SC Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Semmes' Brigade : 1/2/5/10/14 LA + 1 LA Zouaves Battalion + 3 LA Battalion (~3,500)
* * * * * Griffith's Brigade : 12/13/17/18/19/21 MS + 2 MS Battalion (~4,000)
* * * * * Featherston's Brigade : 1/7/14 TN + 2/11 MS + 2 FL (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 10 Batteries (38 guns)
* * CENTER WING (ARMY OF THE POTOMAC) : MG "Pete" Longstreet (~25,000)
* * * A. P. Hill's Light Division : MG A. P. Hill (~12,500)
* * * * * J. R. Anderson's Brigade : 14/18/19/35/45/49 GA (~3,000)
* * * * * Branch's Brigade : 6/7/18/28/33/37 NC (~3,000)
* * * * * Pender's Brigade : 15/16/22/34/38 NC (~3,000)
* * * * * Gregg's Brigade : 1/12/13/14 SC + 1/2 SC Rifles (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 12 Batteries (51 guns)
* * * Anderson's Division : BG "Fighting Dick" Anderson (~12,500)
* * * * * Archer's Brigade : 1/3/7/11/17/24 VA (~2,500)
* * * * * Pickett's Brigade : 8/18/19/28/56 VA + 22 VA Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Wilcox's Brigade : 8/9/10/11/13/14 AL (~3,500)
* * * * * Texas (Hood's) Brigade : 1/4/5 TX + 3 AK + 2 AK Battalion + Hampton's (SC) Legion + Palmetto (SC) Sharpshooters (~3,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 10 Batteries (41 guns)
* * LEFT WING (ARMY OF THE VALLEY) : MG "Stonewall" Jackson (~23,500)
* * * Ewell's Division (consolidated) : MG "Baldy" Ewell (~14,500)
* * * * * Stonewall (Winder's) Brigade : 2/4/5/27/33 VA + 1 VA Battalion (~1,500)
* * * * * J. R. Jones' Brigade : 10/21/23/37/42/48 VA (~3,000)
* * * * * Elzey's Brigade : 13/25/31/44/52/58 VA (~1,500)
* * * * * Lawton's Brigade : 13/26/31/38/60/61 GA (~4,000)
* * * * * Taylor's Brigade : 6/7/8/9 LA + 1 LA Special Battalion + 16 MS (~2,500)
* * * * * Trimble's Brigade : 12/21 GA + 21 NC + 1 NC Sharpshooters + 15 AL + 1 MD (~2,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (32 guns)
* * * D. H. Hill's Division (attached) : MG D. H. Hill (~9,000)
* * * * * Garland's Brigade : 2/12/13/20/23 NC (~2,500)
* * * * * G. B. Anderson's Brigade : 1/2/3/4/14/30 NC (~3,500)
* * * * * Rodes' Brigade : 3/5/6/12/13/26 AL + 5 AL Battalion (~3,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (30 guns)
* * RESERVE WING (DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA) : MG "Granny" Holmes (~14,000)
* * * Huger's Division : MG Benjamin Huger (~6,500)
* * * * * Ransom's Brigade : 24/25/26/35/48/49 NC (~4,000)
* * * * * Walker's Brigade : 27/43/45/46/50 NC (~2,500)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 9 Batteries (46 guns)
* * * Whiting's Division : BG "Billy" Whiting (~7,500)
* * * * * Field's Brigade : 15/32/40/47/55/60 VA (~2,500)
* * * * * Mahone's Brigade : 6/12/16/30/41/49 VA (~3,000)
* * * * * Armistead's Brigade : 9/14/38/53/57 VA + 5 VA Battalion (~2,000)
* * * * * Division Artillery Battalion : 7 Batteries (28 guns)
EXPLANATIONS :
* Lee divides his army into four wings, three in action and one at reserve. These wings are commanded by the highest officers in the area : MG Theophilus H. Holmes, MG John B. Magruder, MG James Longstreet and MG Thomas J. Jackson. Each of this officers had control of divisions, which can be detached to other commanders temporarily (D. H. Hill's Division, for example, originally belonging to Longstreet's wing, is sent here to the Valley in order to link with Jackson and to get Lawton's Brigade from Ewell's Division).
* The divisions are commanded by senior officers :
- MGs Benjamin Huger, D. R. Jones, Richard S. Ewell, D. H. Hill, Lafayette McLaws, A. P. Hill
- BGs R. H. Anderson and W. H. C. Whiting
These commanders are in charge of two (Huger) to six (Ewell) brigades, ranging from 6,500 to 14,500 men.
* By consolidating the brigades to five or six regiments each, I want to provide a more centralized command structure with as less subordinate as possible. At the Seven Days, Lee was indeed communicating his orders to seven different commanders at least, sometimes with seniority problems.
* Holmes is the oldest subordinate on the field and, while his skills are respected by President Davis, he didn't prove to be a dependable commander throughout the war. I assigned him to the Reserve Wing in command of the two smallest divisions of the Army, as an extra-force in case of general engagement.
* Magruder is a deceptive master when entrenched and is a faithful warrior, following clear orders. He needs to prove his ability in attack, while commanding a large amount of men. Both D. R. Jones and McLaws, his subordinates, are competent officers.
* Longstreet is an excellent tactician, he commands the main body of the army. MG A. P. Hill is a tough and charismatic leader but can be a "difficult" subordinate for Longstreet. Manwhile, Longstreet could trust BG R. H. Anderson, nicknamed "Fighting Dick", who succeeds in command of Longstreet's old division.
* Jackson is a legend but his Valley campaign costed him both physical and mental strengthes. That's why all of his command was gathered in Ewell's Division as a lone unit, able to act as top subordinate and respond to Lee's orders if Jackson cannot be ready to attack. In this case, D. H. Hill's Division would return to Longstreet's wing, getting Lawton's Brigade from the Valley District. Ewell follows clear orders and is a superb tactician. D. H. Hill is a very talented commander but often get troubles with his superiors (except for Jackson, his brother-in-law).
* Facing the Army of the Potomac with such an organization, GEN Lee should be able to put more effectively in action his troops and could be able to destroy a part of the Fifth Corps (if not the totality), while threatening McClellan's supply base and escape road to Harrison's Landing.
* Of course, we would never know but this can be interesting to imagine what would happen :
BATTLES :
June 25 :
* McClellan orders Heintzelman to make a demonstration with some elements of the Third Corps. Holmes' Command, entrenched at Oak Grove, repulses the attack and counter-attacks with Huger's Division : minimal losses on both sides.
June 26 :
* Longstreet is assigned to attack Fitz-John Porter's Fifth Corps at Mechanicsville. Jackson is ordered to move first by the North but he doesn't attack and Longstreet launches A. P. Hill's Light Division against entrenched Federals and is savagely repulsed. Realizing that Jackson is no more operational to achieve his mission, Lee orders directly to Ewell to attack with all his forces in order to divert Porter while D. H. Hill's Division, reeinforced by the adjunction of Lawton's Brigade, reaches Longstreet's wing. The Fifth Corps resists desperately against the 10,500 men from Ewell's Division and Porter asks McClellan reinforcements from the other federal corps, south of the Chickahominy River. To prevent this, Lee has ordered to Magruder to demonstrate against the Federals in this area, and McClellan receives reports from Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes and Franklin telling that the ennemy is preparing an attack in force.
* McClellan, convinced that Lee outnumbers him, orders Porter to resist until dusk and to fall back then, while the Sixth Corps would link with Porter's troops and the whole army would proceed to retreat down to Harrison's Landing. Finally, Lee lauch a general attack with A. P. Hill's, D. H. Hill's and Anderson's divisions against Porter, more than 35,000 Confederates against 20,000 Federals without support, nearly out of ammunition. Porter decides to make a stand and the Fifth Corps is finally annihilated by a flank attack lauched by Ewell, acting as semi-independent commander on the back of his ennemy. With some 6,000 men, Ewell manages to cut the link between Porter and McClellan and surrounds the Fifth Corps.
* At night, Lee occupies Mechanicsville with Longstreet's wing. Having destroyed the whole Fifth Corps (25,000 men strong) and having lost less than 10,000 men, he won the day. Lee expected McClellan's reaction and prepares to pursuit with Magruder and Longstreet, south of the river, and with Ewell and D. H. Hill, on the north side. Huger's Division from Holmes' wing is escorting the Federal prisoners while Whiting's Division is temporarily attached to Longstreet' wing.
June 27 :
* McClellan urges the Fourth Corps towards Harrison's Landing while the remaining corps extend in defensive line aroud Glendale, expecting an attack.
June 28 :
* Lee, advised by Longstreet, seeks to avoid another costly assault, and tries to uncircle the Army of the Potomac by the north. Ewell crosses the river at White Oak Swamp and moves beyond the federal lines, followed by D. H. Hill. He is ordered to go south and cut the link between the Fourth Corps and the rest of the federal troops. D. H. Hill's Division encounters Franklin's Sixth Corps and a savage fight occurs. The Confederates, blocked in the swamp, are bloodily repulsed but Franklin doesn't counter-attack, fearing a trap. Ewell reaches Keyes' rearguard and begin to entrench between the two parts of the Union army.
* Having learned of D. H. Hill's defeat against Franklin, Ewell urges desperately Lee for help. Longstreet, supported by Magruder, proposes Lee to send Magruder' wing to Malvern Hill in order to get ground advantage to lauch a major assault. Lee agrees and Whiting's Division, temporarily attached, starts moving fast to Malvern Hill, while Longstreet is assigned to a deceiving task to prevent any federal movement in this area. D. H. Hill, unable to reach Ewell's position, is ordered by Lee to act as Longstreet, mounting false attacks from the north in order to maintain pressure on McClellan and to prevent the destruction of Ewell's Division.
June 29 :
* Whiting's Division, as the vanguard of Magruder's wing, reaches Malvern Hill at dawn but encounters stiffen resistance from Hooker's Division (3rd Corps), who had been ordered by McClellan to establish a new line of defense on top of the hill. The Federals successfully repulse Whiting's assault but are soon outnumbered by the rest of Magruder's wing. McClellan, having loss ground, orders Franklin, Heintzelman and Sumner to gather their divisions and prepare retreating in hurry. While Heintzelman leads the way to join Keyes at Harrison's Landing, Sumner and Franklin are supposed to maintain a defensive line against the Confederates. Magruder starts to rally more and more men at Malvern Hill and launch his troops on afternoon against Sedgwick's Division (2nd Corps) and Kearny's Division (3rd Corps). TheFederals stand bravely and inflict high casualties to their attackers but are forced to fall back at Frayser's Farm. Hooker's Division is separated from the main body of the army and is soon joined by Richardson's Division (2nd Corps), led by McClellan himself, trying to maintain the escape road open until nightfall.
June 30
* Lee, despite Longstreet's advise to wait, orders a general attack on every lines. The Federals are uncircled with few hope of escape. After a desperate resistance, many union soldiers begin to surrender and Sumner's line, in front of Longstreet's wing collapses, allowing the Confederate to split the Army of the Potomac and strike on the rear of Franklin, who was dealing with D. H. Hill at White Oak Swamp. The remnants of Hooker's and Richardson's Brigade, under McClellan direct command, leave the battlefield. Sumner, trying to rally the troops, is killed. Heintzelman is surrounded with Kearny's Division by Magruder's wing, forcing him to surrender. Franklin tries to escape with W. F. Smith's Division but is blocked by D. H. Hill advance and is soon reached by A. P. Hill's Light Division.
* Lee wants to pursue McClellan but his troops are exhausted by these fighting week. Finally, Magruder forms a task force, leading D. H. Hill's and Whiting's Divisions in order to join Ewell and to destroy the rest of the Army of the Potomac.
* McClellan conducts his two small divisions of 10,000 men towards Harrison's Landing and reach Ewell's position on the way. Ewell, having no idea of the size of this federal force, prepares for defense. McClellan, believing that Ewell is about to attack him, goes east and makes a detour to finally link with Keyes at Harrison's Landing, gathering a force of 25,000 men. D. H. Hill, leading the pursuit, blames Ewell for his inaction and continues his way south but realizes that the Federals are well entrenched and too numerous for him. He fall back to Ewell and afterwards, the main body of the army regroup with them.
CONCLUSION :
* With this command structure, and assuming that generals are acting like they originally acted in history, we can imagine that Lee's battleplan would have worked with more efficiency (not perfectly though) : I can at least count 15,000 to 20,000 casualties for the ANV. For the Army of the Potomac, this is a disaster, with the loss of nearly four of the five corps (perhaps 50,000 to 65,000 men killed, wounded or captured).