THE SEVEN DAYS’ THE SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLESBATTLES

Justin Davis and Justin Davis and Tyler EliasTyler Elias

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Good evening and welcome to this Good evening and welcome to this

presentation created by Justin Davis presentation created by Justin Davis and Tyler Elias.and Tyler Elias.

In these next slides, we will be giving In these next slides, we will be giving you information about the Seven you information about the Seven Days’ battles of the Civil War.Days’ battles of the Civil War.

WHAT WERE THE SEVEN DAYS’ WHAT WERE THE SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLESBATTLES

The Seven Days’ battles were a series of six major The Seven Days’ battles were a series of six major battles:battles:– Oak GroveOak Grove– MechanicsvilleMechanicsville– Gaines’ MillGaines’ Mill– Savage’s StationSavage’s Station– GlendaleGlendale– Malvern HillMalvern Hill

The Seven Days’ battles took place near Richmond, The Seven Days’ battles took place near Richmond, Virginia from June 25- July 1, 1862.Virginia from June 25- July 1, 1862.

The strategic objective for the Union was to take the The strategic objective for the Union was to take the Confederate capital, Richmond. The Confederate goal Confederate capital, Richmond. The Confederate goal was to defend it.was to defend it.

ROBERT E. LEEROBERT E. LEE Robert Edward Lee was born Jan. 19, 1807 in Robert Edward Lee was born Jan. 19, 1807 in

Stratford, Virginia. He was ranked second in Stratford, Virginia. He was ranked second in his class at West Point in 1829. his class at West Point in 1829.

He became the commander of the Army of He became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862 In February 1865 Northern Virginia in 1862 In February 1865 he was given command of all the Southern he was given command of all the Southern armies. On April 9, 1865, he surrendered to armies. On April 9, 1865, he surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.Court House.

He then became president of Washington He then became president of Washington College later that year. He died on October College later that year. He died on October 12, 1870.12, 1870.

GEORGE B. MGEORGE B. MCCCLELLANCLELLAN George Brinton McClellan was born on December George Brinton McClellan was born on December

3,1825 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McClellan, 3,1825 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McClellan, like Lee, graduated second in his class at West like Lee, graduated second in his class at West Point in 1846.Point in 1846.

McClellan became the Union commander of the McClellan became the Union commander of the Army of the Potomac in 1862. His poor Army of the Potomac in 1862. His poor leadership skills caused Lincoln to relieve him of leadership skills caused Lincoln to relieve him of duty after the battle of Antietam.duty after the battle of Antietam.

He ran for President as a Democrat for 1864 He ran for President as a Democrat for 1864 presidential election and lost to Lincoln. McClellan presidential election and lost to Lincoln. McClellan then became governor of New Jersey until 1881. then became governor of New Jersey until 1881. He died on October 29,1885.He died on October 29,1885.

OAK GROVEOAK GROVE Oak GroveOak Grove was the first major battle of the was the first major battle of the

Seven Days' battles. On June 25, General Seven Days' battles. On June 25, General McClellan advanced his lines along the McClellan advanced his lines along the Williamsburg Road with the objective of  bringing Williamsburg Road with the objective of  bringing Richmond within range of his siege guns. Richmond within range of his siege guns.

Union forces attacked over swampy ground with Union forces attacked over swampy ground with uncertain results, and darkness stopped the uncertain results, and darkness stopped the fighting. General McClellan's attack was not fighting. General McClellan's attack was not strong enough to derail the Confederate offensive strong enough to derail the Confederate offensive that already had been set in motion. that already had been set in motion.

The next day, General Lee seized the initiative by The next day, General Lee seized the initiative by attacking at Beaver Dam Creek north of the attacking at Beaver Dam Creek north of the Chickahominy. Chickahominy.

MECHANICSVILLEMECHANICSVILLE The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the

Battle of Battle of MechanicsvilleMechanicsville, took place on June 26, , took place on June 26, 1862 as the second major battle of the Seven Days’ 1862 as the second major battle of the Seven Days’ battles during the Peninsula Campaign of the battles during the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War.American Civil War.

It was the start of General McClellan’s offensive attack It was the start of General McClellan’s offensive attack which threatened the Confederate capital of which threatened the Confederate capital of Richmond.Richmond.

General A.P. Hill forces his division, reinforced by General A.P. Hill forces his division, reinforced by General D.H. Hill's brigade, into a series of General D.H. Hill's brigade, into a series of unsuccessful assaults against General Fitz John unsuccessful assaults against General Fitz John Porter's Fifth Corps, which occupied defensive works Porter's Fifth Corps, which occupied defensive works behind Beaver Dam Creek. Confederate attacks were behind Beaver Dam Creek. Confederate attacks were driven back with heavy casualties. Porter withdrew his driven back with heavy casualties. Porter withdrew his corps safely to Gaines’ Mill.corps safely to Gaines’ Mill.

GAINES’ MILLGAINES’ MILL Gaines’ MillGaines’ Mill was the third major battle of the Seven was the third major battle of the Seven

Days’ campaign. On June 27, 1862, General Robert Days’ campaign. On June 27, 1862, General Robert E. Lee improved his attacks against General Porter's E. Lee improved his attacks against General Porter's V Corps, which had established a strong defensive V Corps, which had established a strong defensive line behind Boatswain's Swamp north of the line behind Boatswain's Swamp north of the Chickahominy River. Chickahominy River.

Porter's reinforced Fifth Corps held fast for the Porter's reinforced Fifth Corps held fast for the afternoon against disjointed Confederate attacks, afternoon against disjointed Confederate attacks, inflicting heavy casualties. At dusk, the Confederates inflicting heavy casualties. At dusk, the Confederates mounted a coordinated assault that broke Porter's mounted a coordinated assault that broke Porter's line. The Union army retreated across the river line. The Union army retreated across the river during the night. during the night.

Gaines' Mill is said to have saved Richmond for the Gaines' Mill is said to have saved Richmond for the Confederacy in 1862. Confederacy in 1862.

SAVAGES’ STATIONSAVAGES’ STATION Savage’s Station Savage’s Station was the fourth major battle of was the fourth major battle of

the Seven Days’ campaign. On June 29, the main the Seven Days’ campaign. On June 29, the main body of the Union army began a general body of the Union army began a general withdrawal toward the James River.withdrawal toward the James River.

  General John Magruder pursued along the General John Magruder pursued along the railroad and the Williamsburg Road and struck railroad and the Williamsburg Road and struck Sumner's Corps, which was the rearguard, with Sumner's Corps, which was the rearguard, with three brigades near Savage's Station.  three brigades near Savage's Station. 

Union forces continued to withdraw across White Union forces continued to withdraw across White Oak Swamp, abandoning supplies and more than Oak Swamp, abandoning supplies and more than 2,500 wounded soldiers in a field hospital. 2,500 wounded soldiers in a field hospital.

Tactical victory was unknown.Tactical victory was unknown.

GLENDALEGLENDALE GlendaleGlendale was the fifth major battle of the Seven was the fifth major battle of the Seven

Days’ campaign. On June 30, Union Days’ campaign. On June 30, Union counterattacks by General Hooker's division counterattacks by General Hooker's division sealed the break and saved their line of sealed the break and saved their line of retreat. "Stonewall"  Jackson's divisions were retreat. "Stonewall"  Jackson's divisions were delayed by Franklin at White Oak Swamp. delayed by Franklin at White Oak Swamp.

The Confederates made a weak attempt to turn The Confederates made a weak attempt to turn the Union left flank at Turkey Bridge but was the Union left flank at Turkey Bridge but was driven back by Federal Navy gunboats in the driven back by Federal Navy gunboats in the James River. That night, McClellan established a James River. That night, McClellan established a strong position on Malvern Hill. strong position on Malvern Hill.

Victory is inconclusive.Victory is inconclusive.

MALVERN HILLMALVERN HILL Malvern HillMalvern Hill was the sixth and last was the sixth and last

major battle of the Seven Days’ major battle of the Seven Days’ campaign. On July 1, General Lee campaign. On July 1, General Lee makes one last attack on the strong makes one last attack on the strong Union lines. Union lines.

General McClellan brings up artillery to General McClellan brings up artillery to back the infantry. The Confederates back the infantry. The Confederates suffer heavy losses and they are suffer heavy losses and they are forced to retreat. forced to retreat.

BATTLE MAPBATTLE MAP

AFTERMATHAFTERMATH Despite his victory, McClellan Despite his victory, McClellan

retreats to Harrison Landing to cross retreats to Harrison Landing to cross the James River.the James River.

Strategically, the Confederates win Strategically, the Confederates win the battles of the Seven Days. the battles of the Seven Days. Richmond holds for about another Richmond holds for about another three years.three years.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.sonofthesouth.net/http://www.sonofthesouth.net/

http://www.civilwar.org/http://www.civilwar.org/

http://www.blueandgraytrail.com/http://www.blueandgraytrail.com/