After marching for a few miles toward New Cold Harbor rather than Old Cold Harbor, Jackson discovered his error, and the guide put the advance on the correct road. Lee hoped this movement would force the Federals to abandon their strong defensive positions on the bluffs above Beaver Dam Creek. That same night, McClellan began withdrawing his army southward toward the James River where, he hoped, in a few days he would find both U.S. Navy gunboats and supply ships in plentiful numbers. He had that day attacked a much larger Federal army attempting to capture the city. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Clearing the bluffs would permit the three Confederate divisions on the south side to cross the river and, in Lee's words, "sweep down the Chickahominy and endeavor to drive the enemy from his position above New Bridge.". Skirmishing broke out at Garnett's and Golding's Farms the next day, south of the Chickahominy, but June 28 was primarily a day of hard marching for the Federals, and for Longstreet's and Hill's men as well. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. He immediately devised a plan by which he might catch and destroy in detail the fleeing Federals. Major General George B. McClellan's army required more than 600 tons of food and supplies each day. Updates? The Seven Days Campaign of 1862 was a sequence of battles that took place along the Virginia Peninsula east of Richmond between the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Virginia Army. Now, Lee sent Magruder forward to cooperate with Jackson in attacking the Federals at Savage's Station. Sketch exhibiting the approachs to … Hill's columns re-crossed the Chickahominy upstream, west of the Gaines's Mill battlefield, and tried to cut off the Federals before they could reach the James. After suffering almost 1,000 casualties (to the Confederates' 440), Sumner withdrew through the night across White Oak Swamp, just seven miles from the James River. Reaching the James River, and supported by Union gunboats, the Northern troops turned back Lee’s final assaults at Malvern Hill (July 1). His next book, Great Maps of the Civil War, will be published in 2004. Lee went to work immediately. Here Sumner crossed the river to reinforce the part of McClellan's army fighting at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. To move upon the railroad and still maintain a defensive force before Richmond, Lee would have to divide his own army. As darkness fell, Confederate President Jefferson Davis prayed not only for the life of the general but also of his fledgling nation, which seemed perilously close to death. …moved cautiously and in the Seven Days’ Battles (June 25–July 1) was turned back, his Peninsular Campaign a failure. Lee based his plan to dislodge the largest army in the history of the New World on what would prove to be an accurate understanding of the Federal position and its weaknesses. The Seven Days Battles were a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. Thus Lee's first offensive revealed what would become over the next two years his hallmarks: opportunism and a willingness to take risks. The seven days battles lasted one week and consisted of seven battles. Seven Days Battles White Oak Swamp marker. But events in June 1862 proved that all the Confederate cause had lacked was a military leader of superior ability. Darkness ended the fighting, which produced slightly over 1,000 total casualties. The battle at Seven Pines continued on June 1 and cost the Confederates more than 6,000 men, but the aggressive Lee had his own ideas about how to defeat the North and worried less about winning the battle than saving what men he had and embarking on a new plan. The three options before the Confederate government, therefore, were to abandon Richmond, to fight a defensive battle for Richmond, or to attack. McClellan with his army divided by the rain swollen Chickahominy Creek prepares to assault the city's earthworks. With McClellan’s enormous army, surely it could be taken, and the war swiftly won. He urged an attack as the best means by which to preserve Richmond Within three weeks of taking command Lee had his plan, had articulated it, and made ready to launch it. Seven Days Battle. McClellan was forced to retreat from a position 4 miles (6 km) east of the Confederate capital to a new base of operations at Harrison’s Landing on the James River. Each column would move on its own road, and each would march - or attack - only if the commander saw an advantage. Alfred Waud sketched the aftermath of the Battle of Gaines' Mill (Library of Congress), Soldiers rest on the Seven Pines Battlefield in Virginia (Library of Congress), Fighting at the Chickahominy River, June 27 1862 (Library of Congress). June 25, 1862. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Union field hospital, Savage's Station, Virginia, photograph by James F. Gibson, June 30, 1862. The Seven Days' Battles (25 June–1 July 1862) were the succession of Civil War battles in which the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee forced the Union Gen. George B. McClellan to abandon his threatening position east of Richmond, Virginia, and retreat to the James River. Northern casualties were estimated at 16,000 men and Southern at 20,000. The campaign consisted of the following six battles: Mechanicsville, Gaines ' Mill, and Savage Station, engagement at Oak Swamp Bridge, and battles of Frazier 's Farm and Malvern Hill over a seven … But once again, Jackson was delayed. Lee studied the enemy, exploited his weaknesses as early as possible, and sought every opportunity to attack before he could be prepared. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The lead elements had reached Malvern hill and dared the Southerners to come might catch and in. Lee himself surveyed the fighting at Savage 's Station to news, offers and. Was the combined column of Longstreet and hill sent their men forward editor Civil! Brigades suffered severely, `` it was not war, '' wrote Confederate D.H.. By rapid movement, Jackson closed separately with several Federal units and defeated them.… ( and others who... 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