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Drewry’s Bluff (May 15th)

After the destruction of the Virginia , Union ships, which included the ironclad Monitor and Galena was sent up the James River. To prevent the navy from reaching Richmond, the Confederates had constructed Fort Drewry, located on the west bank of the river upon large cliffs, as well as narrowed the river. On May 15, 1862, the Union ships engaged the fort, and traded fire with them for four hours. The Union navy was forced to withdraw, after sustaining 41 casualties.

Johnston withdrew to the Chickahominy in order to prevent an attack on Richmond, though repositioned his army two days later three miles away from Richmond McClellan slowly advanced towards Richmond, though he took the time ask Lincoln to demote his corps commanders. Lincoln agreed, though McClellan decided instead to create two more corps instead with Franklin and Porter in command. His advance was further slowed by the need to repair railroad lines. McClellan’s army began to take positions outside Richmond, with one corps being placed 6 miles away at Seven Pines on May 24th.

Battle of Hanover Court House (May 27th)

Union forces under Brigadier General Fitz John Porter attempted to cut Confederate Railroad lines and take Telegraph Road to allow 30,000 Union reinforcements under General Irvin McDowell to arrive. Confederates under Brigadier General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch engaged the Union forces by the Hanover Court House. The Confederates were forced to retreat after loosing 930 soldiers, only having killed 397 Union soldiers. Despite Union victory, McDowell’s men were forced to stay in Fredericksburg due to the loss at the First Battle of Kernstown.

Seven Pines (May 31st)

Johnston, who had received reports from Jeb Stuart of McDowell’s reinforcements, decided to attack McClellan before a second army was able to arrive. He had decided to attack Keyes’ division at Seven Pines, as it was isolated from the rest of McClellan’s army. The battle was delayed by miscommunication between Confederate lines, but finally began on May 31st. The Confederates were able to drive off the Union forces until the Sumner’s II Corps arrived. During the battle, Johnston was injured, forcing President Davis to appoint a replacement. He choose his military advisor, Robert E. Lee, to replace Johnston, telling him “You will assume command of the armies in Eastern Virginia and in North Carolina, and give orders as may be needful and proper.” He however let Johnston’s next in line, Smith, continue command for the battle, who attacked again but the Union forces held their ground. When Lee arrived, he realized no further progress could be made against McClellan’s men, and ordered the army to withdraw. The Union forces also held position as McClellan had been sick throughout the battle. Little was gained by either side, with Confederate casualties numbering either 6,134 or 7,997 , while the Union lost either 5,031 or 5,738 < http://www.legendsofamerica.com/AH-PeninsulaCampaignBattles.html</ref> men. However the Seven Pines battle was extremely important as it marked General Lee taking command of the Army of Northern Virginia, and caused McClellan’s advance to stop. Jeb Stuart’s ride around McClellan’s forces from June 13th – 15th further gave him pause.

While Lee was increasing the defenses of Richmond, he decided to reinforce Stonewall Jackson at the Shenandoah Valley with three brigades on June 11th. They were merely a diversion however, as Lee intended Jackson to flank McClellan’s right. Rain and illness had prevented McClellan from doing anything after the Seven Pines, and when the rains on subsided on June 24th decided to attempt a siege of Richmond, rather than an all out assault. Despite Lee’s attempt to conceal Jackson’s march, McClellan learned of the plan to attack his right, but McClellan made no move to reinforce it, and continued with his plans to besiege Richmond.

Seven Days Battles (June 25 – July 1)

Seven Days Battles, June 26 – June 27, 1862.

Mechanicsville

Jackson’s troops, a vital component of Lee’s plans, were delayed, due to poor conditions of the roads and arrived late to his planned position on the 26th of June. The troops supposed to be stationed there to meet him were no where to be seen, and he ordered his tired troops to camp. A.P. Hill, who along with Longstreet and D.H. Hill had been awaiting Jackson’s arrival with impatience, did not receive news of Jackson’s arrival, despite a messenger being sent by Jackson. A.P. Hill advanced against the Union’s right flanks held by Porter’s II Corps, and Longstreet and D.H. Hill followed suit. Lee reinforced the assault, despite the fact it was not as how he had originally planned it, as the assault on the flank was primarily a diversion to reach cut Union supply lines. The Union forces managed to repel A.P. Hill’s assault, without any Confederates getting close enough to engage them. The Confederate forces had lost 1,400 men for nothing, while the Union forces had only lost 361.

Gaine’s Mill

Porter had moved his troops from the position assaulted by A.P. Hill to Boatswain’s Swamp next to Gaine’s Mill, due to the threat that Jackson’s men posed. A.P. Hill and Longstreet pursued Porter and charged, according to A.P. Hill, in “the handsomest charge in line I have seen during the war” The first charge scattered the Union forces, which turned out to be an advance party. The main line repelled the charge, though Lee urged his commanders to assault again in order to facilitate an assault on the rear of Porter’s troops by Jackson and D.H. Hill. A.P. Hill attacked again, without the support of Longstreet, and was again thrown back, though A.P. Hill said “these brave men have done all that any soldiers can do”. Jackson was yet again lost, having trusted a local guide, to disastrous results. Each Confederate general attacked the line at separate times, receiving far more damage and inflicting far less than if they had coordinated their attacks. . However the Confederates were able to win the battle, primarily due to the assault led by J.B. Hood who was told by Lee “This must be done,”, as well as the long awaited flank attack by D.H. Hill. . Total casualties numbered 8,517 for the Confederates, who had 57,018 engaged, while the Union lost 6,837 out of 34,214. It was a Confederate victory, but was quite costly due to yet another confusion amongst Lee’s generals, as well as another disastrous march by Jackson.

McClellan, upon learning of Porter’s defeat, decided to withdraw to the James River, a decision supported by Lincoln. . This decision to retreat was furthered by the fact that McClellan thought Lee had 250,000 men, 3 times Lee’s actual strength, and McClellan in fact outnumbered Lee. This retreat occurred on the 28th, and so confused Lee he did not attack the fleeing army. On June 29th, at Savage’s Station, Confederate troops under John B. Magruder attacked the Union rear guard, Sumner’s Corps. This allowed the rest of the Union army to retreat, leaving behind 2,500 wounded men.

Glendale

However Lee did not halt his pursuit, and McClellan was however forced to perform one last rearguard action to prevent the Confederate army from crossing White Oaks Swamp on June 30th. Two separate battles occurred, on at the bridge crossing at White Oaks Swamp, the other at Glendale, or Frayser’s Farm. Jackson was prevented from crossing at White Oaks Swamp by artillery emplacements. . The rest of the army attacked the Union at Glendale. A.P. Hill and Longstreet broke through the Union line, but were halted by counterattacks led by Hooker and Kearny. This allowed the Union army to finally retreat to Malvern Hill, and take a stand. The Confederate casualties were around 3,300 while the defenders lost 2,853. .

Seven Days Battles, June 30, 1862.

Malvern Hill (July 1st)

McClellan’s troops finally reached Malvern Hill, and proceeded to fortify the highly defensible area. However he wanted it to be yet another rearguard position to his base at Harrison’s Landing. Lee decided to attack the hill, despite the heavily guarded position, and not having enough artillery to deal with the Union batteries. Despite their inferior position, the Confederates under Lewis Addison Armistead charged, causing D.H. Hill, Huger, and Jackson to also attack. All of the charges were turned back because of the superior Union cannons. D.H. Hill would later say of the charge, “It wasn’t war, it was murder.” The Confederates lost 5,335 men for no gain, while the Union lost 3,214. Despite this victory, McClellan ordered the army to withdraw to Harrison’s Landing, too many of his commander’s dismay. The Seven Days Battle was the end of the Peninsular Campaign, and all told 15,849 Union and 20,133 Confederate casualties were sustained during the Seven Days.

Aftermath

The Peninsula campaign was a key point in the war as it represented a wasted opportunity of the Union to capture Richmond, as well as placed General Robert E. Lee in command of the Northern Virginian army. McClellan continued to demand reinforcements due to the fact he was still convinced that Lee had superior troops. In response Lincoln gave John Pope command in the next campaign against Lee, Northern Virginia Campaign.

References