Today In History: The Battle of Seven Pines

May 31,

 

The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, in which the Army of the Potomac reached the outskirts of Richmond ha became known 

Union General George B. McClellan
Union General George B. McClellan

as the Peninsular Campaign.  On May 31, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm two Federal corps that appeared 

Joseph E. Johnston, General CSA
Joseph E. Johnston, General CSA

isolated south of the Chickahominy River. The Confederate assaults, although not well coordinated, succeeded in driving back the IV Corps and inflicting heavy casualties. Reinforcements arrived, and both sides fed more and more troops into the action. Supported by the III Corps and Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick‘s division of

Major John Sedgwick, USA
Major General  John Sedgwick, USA

Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner‘s II Corps (which crossed the rain-swollen river on Grapevine Bridge), the Federal position was finally stabilized.

Major General Edwin V. Sumner
Major General Edwin V. Sumner

Gen. Johnston was seriously wounded during the action, and command of the Confederate army devolved temporarily to Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith. On June 1, the Confederates renewed their assaults against the Federals,

Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith
Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith

 

who had brought up more reinforcements, but made little headway. Both sides claimed victory.  Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it was the largest battle in the Eastern Theater up to that time (and second only to Shiloh in terms of casualties thus far, about 11,000 total) and marked the end of the Union offensive, leading to the Seven Days Battles and Union retreat in late June.

 

 

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 Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

 

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