The Seven Days' Battles Driving Tour (1862)

The Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia commenced on this day in 1862. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm two Federal corps that appeared isolated south of the Chickahominy River. The Confederate assaults succeeded in driving back the IV Corps and inflicting heavy casualties. General Joseph Johnston was seriously wounded during the action, and command of the Confederate army devolved temporarily to Major General G.W. Smith. On June 1st, 1862, the Confederates renewed their assaults against the Federals who had brought up more reinforcements but made little headway. Confederate General Robert E. Lee would replace Joseph Johnston as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

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The Seven Day's Battle commenced on this day in 1862. Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia engaged Union General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac at Mechanicsville, Virginia (The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek). These conflicts kept Union forces out of the city of Richmond, Virginia.

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The Battle of Gaines' Mill, Virginia was fought on this day in 1862. This battle was part of the Seven Days' Battles (Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. Following the inconclusive Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, Confederate General Robert E. Lee renewed his attacks against the right flank of the Federal Army, relatively isolated on the northern side of the Chickahominy River. Federal Brigadier General Fitz John Porter's V Corps had established a strong defensive line behind Boatswain's Swamp. Lee's army was destined to launch the largest Confederate attack of the war, about 57,000 men in six divisions. Porter's reinforced V Corps held fast for the afternoon as the Confederates attacked in a disjointed manner, first with the division of Major General A.P. Hill, then Major General Richard S. Ewell, suffering heavy casualties. The arrival of Major General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's command was delayed, preventing the full concentration of Confederate force before Porter received some reinforcements from the VI Corps. At dusk, the Confederates finally mounted a coordinated assault that broke Porter's line and drove his men back toward the Chickahominy River. The Federals retreated across the river during the night. The Confederates were too disorganized to pursue the main Federal force. The Battle of Gaines' Mill saved Richmond for the Confederacy in 1862.
 
The Battle of Glendale (Frayser's Farm), Virginia took place on this day in 1862. This battle was part of the Seven Days' Battles (Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. The Confederate divisions of Major Generals Benjamin Huger, James Longstreet, and A.P. Hill converged on the retreating Federal Army in the vicinity of Frayser's Farm. Longstreet's and Hill's attacks penetrated the Federal defense near the Willis Church. Federal counterattacks sealed the break and saved their line of retreat along the Willis Church Road. The divisions led by Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson were delayed by Federal Brigadier General William B. Franklin's corps at White Oak Swamp. Confederate Major General Theophilus H. Holmes made a feeble attempt to attack the Federal left flank at Turkey Bridge but was driven back. This had been Lee's best chance to cut off the Federal army from the James River. That night, the Federal army established a strong position on Malvern Hill.
 
The Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia was fought on this day in 1862 between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Federal Army of the Potomac commanded by Major General George B. McClellan. It was the final battle of the Seven Days' Battles during the American Civil War. This battle occurred near the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.
 
The Seven Days' Battle commences on this day with the Battle of Mechanicsville (Beaver Dam Creek, Ellerson's Mill), Virginia.
 
The Seven Days' Battle commenced on this day in 1862. Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia engaged Union General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac at Mechanicsville, Virginia (The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek). These conflicts kept Federal forces out of the city of Richmond, Virginia.

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A small anecdote regarding Beaver Dam Creek. I believe it was the next day when R. Snowden Andrews (a Confederate gunner who in 1863 published a CSA drill manual modeled on the official US War Department 1860 Instruction for Field Artillery manual instruction written by Hunt/Barry/French), was walking over the battlefield and to his elation found an abandoned copy of Patten's Artillery Drill manual. Patten's was a sort of "field artillery drill for dummies" and focused on required steps by each crew member in the standard drill. It was compact and succinct and many federal gunners bought it as a "Cliff's Notes" backup to the official manual. It was probably hard for Rebel officers to acquire after war broke out, so Andrews' satisfaction at his good luck made sense.
 
It only began today in 1862 in the rebel reckoning. It began yesterday in 1862 in the Union reckoning.
 
Welcome and thanks for the kind words!

Bill
I'll second Cavalier's point. The Harrison's Landing photos are especially a great resource. I've seen plenty of views of GM, Malvern, etc but the place that McClellan retreated to gets much less coverage.
 
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