June 1, 1862

June 1, 1862:

Battle of Seven Pines

(or Fair Oaks)

Virginia

Eastern Theater, Peninsula Campaign

Day 2In the morning, Gen. G.W. Smith, now in command of the Army of Northern Virginia, orders the attacks to resume. In the Union line, Gen. Sedgwick’s division has arrived from north of the Chickahominy to reinforce their comrades, and he and Couch form the right flank. On the left flank is principally Richardson’s division, at right angles to Sedgwick. Longstreet launches the attacks against the Union left, keeping Hill’s battered division in reserve, and sending in Richard Anderson’s division to hit Richardson. Hooker’s division comes up to reinforce Richardson, and Longstreet and Huger’s troops waste themselves against this defense, and finally retreat in defeat. Gen. Smith holds more troops in reserve but never puts them into the battle. This second day is more of a win for the Union, but combined with Hill’s brilliant attacks of the preceding day, most historians call this a draw or stalemate. A number of commanders on both sides, including Hampton, Pettigrew, and Howard, are wounded in this battle.

Battle of Seven Pines, Day 2

Stalemate
Losses:    Killed     Wounded     Missing     Total
U.S.             790         3,594             647               5,031
C.S.             980         4,749             405              6,134

However, the most significant result of this battle is that Pres. Davis, after one day of command, takes away command of the army from Gen. G. W. Smith and gives it to Robert E. Lee.

Federal artillery position near Fair Oaks

—Situation, Shenandoah Valley: Jackson, with about 16,000 men, is in Strasburg, which sits astride the Valley Pike; he arrived yesterday, after a hard march. He works at getting all of his troops through, and his supply train. Gen. Fremont, with about 12,000 Federals, was 4 miles west of Strasburg, having lost the race to get there first; Gen. Shields is about 10 miles east of Strasburg with 11,000 Federals, and is waiting for Gen. Ord’s division (now commanded by Ricketts) to come up and reinforce him. (Gen. McDowell, who commands Shields and Ricketts, finally arrives at Front Royal.) Gen. Banks is supposed to be pursuing Jackson from the north, with his 5,000 men, but in fact Banks is still safely in Williamsport, Maryland. Jackson sends Ewell with his division to form a line of battle facing west, to keep Fremont from getting close; Union skirmishers engage the Confederate skirmishers, and artillery from both sides begin to duel—but Fremont seems reluctant to send any attack forward. Ewell knows that Fremont outnumbers him nearly 2 to 1; Fremont thinks that Ewell outnumbers him, so neither side attempts an attack. Meanwhile, Shields sends some troops south down the Luray Valley, to get behind Jackson.