The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place from May 31 – 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 Major General George B. McClellan, in which the Army of the Potomac reached the outskirts of Richmond. Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it was the largest battle in the Eastern Theater up to that time and would mark the end of the Union offensive, leading to the Seven Days Battles and Union retreat. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Download high resolution version (1118x713, 622 KB)TITLE: The Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Henrico County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, Commonwealth — of Virginia. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (traditional) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic President... George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was a major general during the American Civil War. ... Born Joseph E. James Karakasians (born February 6, 1977 in Long Island, New York), better knowed by the name of Joseph Erin James Karakasians is a professional wrestler, training in Richmond, Virginia. ... Gustavus Woodson Smith (1822–1896) Gustavus Woodson Smith (November 30, 1821 – June 24, 1896), more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career U.S. Army officer who fought in the Mexican War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil... McClellan and Johnston of the Peninsula Campaign The Peninsula Campaign (also known as the Peninsular Campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders John L. Worden Franklin Buchanan Catesby R. Jones Strength 1 ironclad, 3 wooden warships 1 ironclad, 2 wooden warships, 1 gunboat, 2 tenders Casualties 2 wooden warships sunk, 1 wooden warship damaged 261 killed 108 wounded 1 ironclad damaged 7... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George B. McClellan John B. Magruder Joseph E. Johnston Strength 146,000 11,000 Casualties 182 300 The Battle of Yorktown was fought from April 5 to May 4, 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil... The Battle of Williamsburg, also known as the Battle of Fort Magruder, took place on May 5, 1862 in York County and Williamsburg, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. ... Battle of Elthams Landing Conflict American Civil War Date May 7, 1862 Place New Kent County, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Eltham’s Landing, also known as the Battle of Barhamsville, or West Point, took place on May 7, 1862 in New Kent County, Virginia as part... The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, also known as the Battle of Fort Darling or Fort Drewry, took place on May 15, 1862 in Chesterfield County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. ... Battle of Hanover Courthouse Conflict American Civil War Date May 27, 1862 Place Hanover County, Virginia Result Union victory The Battle of Hanover Courthouse, also known as the Battle of Slash Church, took place on May 27, 1862 in Hanover County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George B. McClellan Robert E. Lee Strength Army of the Potomac; 105,445 Army of Northern Virginia; 90,500 Casualties 1,734 killed 8,062 wounded 6,053 missing/captured 3,286 killed 15,009 wounded 946 missing/captured Peninsula... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George B. McClellan Robert E. Lee Strength Corps Corps Casualties 516 541 The Battle of Oak Grove, also known as the Battle of French’s Field or King’s School House, took place on June 25, 1862 in Henrico County... Battle of Beaver Dam Creek Conflict American Civil War Date June 26, 1862 Place Hanover County, Virginia Result Union victory The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the Battle of Mechanicsville or Ellerson’s Mill, took place on June 26, 1862 in Hanover County, Virginia as part... Battle of Gaines Mill Conflict American Civil War Date June 27, 1862 Place Hanover County, Virginia Result Confederate victory The Battle of Gaines Mill, also known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as... Battle of Garnetts & Goldings Farm Conflict American Civil War Date June 27-28, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Garnetts & Goldings Farms took place from June 27-28, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American... Battle of Savages Station Conflict American Civil War Date June 29, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Savage’s Station took place on June 29, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. ... Battle of White Oak Swamp Conflict American Civil War Date June 30, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of White Oak Swamp took place on June 30, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. ... Battle of Glendale Conflict American Civil War Date June 30, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Inconclusive (Union withdrawal continued. ... Battle of Malvern Hill Conflict American Civil War Date July 1, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Union victory The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter’s Farm, took place on July 1, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Henrico County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, Commonwealth — of Virginia. ... McClellan and Johnston of the Peninsula Campaign The Peninsula Campaign (also known as the Peninsular Campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was a major general during the American Civil War. ... Generals Burnside, Hancock, Couch, Ferro, Patrick, Wilcox, Cochrane, Buford and others. ... Nickname: The River City Motto: Sic Itur Ad Astra (Thus do we reach the stars) Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia County Independent City Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (D) Area    - City 62. ... President Lincoln visiting the Army of the Potomac at the Antietam battlefield, September 1862. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George B. McClellan Robert E. Lee Strength Army of the Potomac; 105,445 Army of Northern Virginia; 90,500 Casualties 1,734 killed 8,062 wounded 6,053 missing/captured 3,286 killed 15,009 wounded 946 missing/captured Peninsula...

Opposing forces

The Union Army of 105,000 men was near the outskirts of Richmond to the northeast, straddling the Chickahominy River. There were three Corps north of the river, protecting lines of communication: the V Corps under Major General Fitz John Porter; the VI Corps, under Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin; and the II Corps, under Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner. South of the river were the IV Corps, under Brig. Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes in a position far forward and close to the Confederate lines; and the III Corps, under Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman. Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had 60,000 men in his Army of Northern Virginia protecting the works of Richmond. Due to faulty intelligence from the detective Allan Pinkerton on McClellan's staff, the Union general believed that he was outnumbered two to one. Both armies deployed approximately 42,000 men in the battle. Chickahominy also known as the Chick is a river in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Virginia, near which several battles of the United States Civil War were fought in 1862 and 1864. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps) was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. ... Fitz John Porter Fitz John Porter (August 31, 1822 – May 21, 1901) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. ... The VI Corps (Sixth Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... Major General William B. Franklin William Buel Franklin (February 27, 1823 – March 8, 1903) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. ... There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps (Second Corps) during the American Civil War. ... Edwin Vose Bull Head Sumner (January 30, 1797 – March 21, 1863) was a U.S. Army officer who became a Major General and the oldest field commander of any Army Corps on either side during the American Civil War. ... There were two corps of the Union Army called IV Corps during the American Civil War. ... Erasmus Darwin Keyes (May 29, 1810 – October 14, 1895) was a businessman, banker and military general, noted for leading the IV Corps of the Union Army of the Potomac during the first half of the American Civil War. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February 1861 to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven Southern states seceded from the United States (four more states soon followed). ... Daniel Sickles and staff after the Battle of Gettysburg There were four formations in the Union Army designated as III Corps (or Third Corps) during the American Civil War. ... Samuel Peter Heintzelman (September 30, 1805 – May 1, 1880) was a U.S. Army General. ... Born Joseph E. James Karakasians (born February 6, 1977 in Long Island, New York), better knowed by the name of Joseph Erin James Karakasians is a professional wrestler, training in Richmond, Virginia. ... The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War in the eastern theater. ... Portrait of Allan Pinkerton from Harpers Weekly, 1884 Allan Pinkerton (August 25, 1819 – July 1, 1884) was a U.S. detective and spy, best known for creating the Pinkerton Agency, the first detective agency. ...

Johnston's plan

On May 31, Johnston attempted to capitalize on the Union army's straddle of the Chickahominy River by attacking the two corps south of the river, leaving them isolated from the other three corps north of the river. The Confederate attack plan was complex, calling for the divisions of Maj. Gens. A.P. Hill and John B. Magruder to contain the Union forces north of the river, while Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, commanding the main attack, was to converge on Keyes from three directions. May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9, 1825 _ April 2, 1865), was a Confederate States of America general in the American Civil War. ... John B. Magruder John Bankhead Magruder (May 1, 1807 – February 19, 1871) was a U.S. Army officer in the Mexican War, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... James Longstreet (January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904) was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War, the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his Old War Horse. ...

The Union Army had early warning of the attack from the Union Army Balloon Corps commanded by Prof. Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. Lowe had established two balloon camps on the north side of the river, one at Gaines' Farm and one at Mechanicsville. Using the aerostats Washington and Intrepid, Lowe and his assistant were able to watch the Confederate forces on the other side of the river advancing on Heintzelman's position. McClellan, working on faulty intelligence, was sure that the Confederates were feigning an attack. Lowe sent an urgent message to advise McClellan to have New Bridge repaired at once and send reinforcements to Heintzelman's aid.
Woodblock sketch of Lowes balloon with McClellans Army of the Potomac as depicted in Harpers Weekly. ... Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe (1832-1913) Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe (August 20, 1832 – January 16, 1913) was an American aeronaut, scientist and inventor. ... Uncrewed aerostats can carry instruments and sensors for long durations that are impractical for humans and other aircraft. ...

Battle

Battle of Seven Pines

Prof. Lowe ascending in the Intrepid to observe the Battle of Seven Pines

The attack got off to a bad start when Longstreet took the wrong road and moved south instead of east, delaying the advance of his coordinated columns, under Maj. Gens. D. H. Hill and Benjamin Huger, so that no attack could be launched until 1 p.m. Hill began his attack alone and the Union troops were able to withstand his advance. When finally reinforced by Longstreet, Hill succeeded in driving back the IV Corps and inflicting heavy casualties. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1532x2092, 600 KB)Map of the Battle of Seven Pines of the American Civil War. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1532x2092, 600 KB)Map of the Battle of Seven Pines of the American Civil War. ... Image File history File links Balloon. ... Image File history File links Balloon. ... General Daniel Harvey Hill Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12th, 1821 _ September 24th, 1889) was a Confederate general and Southern scholar. ... Benjamin Huger Benjamin Huger (November 22, 1805 – December 7, 1877) was a career United States Army ordnance officer and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ...

Both sides fed more and more troops into the action, although the Confederates never achieved the concentrated mass necessary to prevail; of the thirteen brigades on their right flank, no more than four were ever engaged at once. Supported by the III Corps and Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick's division of Sumner's II Corps (which crossed the rain-swollen river on Sumner's initiative), the Federal position was finally stabilized before the IV Corps could be routed. Gen. Johnston was seriously wounded during the action, and command of the Army of Northern Virginia was assumed temporarily by Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith; Gen. Robert E. Lee soon assumed permanent command. Major General John Sedgwick John Sedgwick (September 13, 1813 – May 9, 1864) was a teacher, a career military officer, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War. ... Gustavus Woodson Smith (1822–1896) Gustavus Woodson Smith (November 30, 1821 – June 24, 1896), more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career U.S. Army officer who fought in the Mexican War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil... Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career U.S. Army officer and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ...

On June 1, the Confederates renewed their assaults against the Federals, who had brought up more reinforcements, but made little headway. Both sides claimed victory with roughly equal casualties, but neither side's accomplishment was impressive. George B. McClellan's advance on Richmond was halted and the Army of Northern Virginia fell back into the Richmond defensive works.
June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ...

References

• Eicher, David J., The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War, Simon & Schuster, 2001, ISBN 0-684-84944-5.
• Esposito, Vincent J., West Point Atlas of American Wars, Frederick A. Praeger, 1959.
• Sears, Stephen W., To the Gates of Richmond: The Peninsula Campaign, Ticknor and Fields, 1992, ISBN 0-89919-790-6.
• National Park Service battle description
• Virginia War Museum battle description

External links

• Animated History of The Peninsula Campaign
• West Point Atlas map of Peninsular Campaign
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 37.520881° -77.304177°
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