The text for this post comes from the marker below which provides an excellent overview of the campaign.

The battles

Excepted from the marker above- No military campaign had more influence on the course of the Civil War than these Seven Days’ battles. George B. McClellan’s army of more than 100,000 Union soldiers landed at Fort Monroe in spring of 1862, and fought its way up the peninsula. By mid-May the Army of the Potomac was on the outskirts of Richmond, hoping to capture it and perhaps end the war. If that strategy succeeded the nation might be reunified, but without abolition of slavery. Confederate General Robert E. Lee chose not to wait for the Federal army’s next move. Instead he seized the initiative, and on June 26 advanced across the Chickahominy River with nearly 45,000 soldiers. That action opened a week-long series of battles that resulted in the Union army retreating to the banks of the James River. With Richmond secure, Lee’s army moved north, defeated Union forces at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas (Bull Run), and then marched toward Maryland and the first invasion of the North.

June 11- The First Dabbs House Meeting and Stuart’s Ride Around McClellan (link)

June 23- The Second Dabbs House Meeting (link)
Here Lee devised a risky plan that he conveyed in person to Generals Jackson, D.H. Hill, A.P. Hill and Longstreet on the 23rd. The key to the plan was that Jackson would move his entire army from the Shenandoah Valley around Porter’s right flank getting behind the Union V Corps. Longstreet and both Hill’s would take what amounted to two-thirds of the Confederate army north of the Chickahominy and attack Porter from the west leaving only Huger and Magruder’s small force to defend Richmond. Lee would attempt to destroy not only Porter’s V Corps but also McClellan’s supply line and base forcing him to either flee back down the peninsula or toward the James River. The risk was that if McClellan decided to make a dash toward Richmond during Lee’s assault he would vastly outnumber the Confederate forces protecting the city and capture Richmond.

June 25- Oak Grove (link)
McClellan’s only offensive action of the campaign. He attempted to move his line a mile and a half forward to place his siege guns on more favorable ground to bombard Richmond but ran into severe Confederate resistance. At the end of the day his line moved forward about 600 yards at the expense of a thousand total casualties.

June 26- Chickahominy Bluff (link)
Lee massed much of his own Confederate army at Chickahominy Bluff and surged over the river in a combined operation with Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

Beaver Dam Creek (link)
Later that afternoon Lee’s men struck a well positioned part of the Federal army at Beaver Dam Creek. His attack failed, but Jackson’s presence above the creek led McClellan to withdraw and move his base of operations to the James River.

June 27- Gaines’ Mill (link) and the Breakthrough Trail (link)
McClellan decided to move to a new base on the James River, but his rearguard at Gaines’ Mill barely escaped destruction when Lee’s Confederates launched an all-out attack, triggering the second and largest battle of the Seven Days.

June 28- Garnett’s and Golding’s (Gouldin’s) Farm (link)
McClellan organized his retreat and achieved a head start in what would become a race to the James River. Meanwhile, Lee shifted from protecting Richmond to pursuing and defeating the Union army. A Confederate demonstration south of the Chickahominy River produced small battles at Garnett’s and Golding’s (Gouldin’s) Farms.

June 29- Savage’s Station (link)
Lee pushed his men forward against the Union army’s rear at Savage’s Station, on the Richmond and York River Railroad. The inconclusive battle there produced 1,400 casualties and temporarily slowed the progress of McClellan’s retreat.

June 30- White Oak Swamp (link)
Jackson pursued the fleeing Union army to White Oak Swamp. Here an artillery duel occurred across the murky waters of the swamp. Wade Hampton discovered a potential crossing point over which he constructed a bridge to flank Union forces. After informing Jackson, the General surprising walked away and fell asleep. Perhaps suffering from severe sleep deprivation Jackson’s uncharacteristic performance here was the low point of his career.

June 30- Glendale/Frayser’s Farm (link)
Confederate columns pursued the Union army. A vicious battle at Glendale (or Frayser’s Farm) gave Lee his best opportunity of the campaign, but the determined resistance of McClellan’s subordinates kept the line of retreat open.

July 1- Malvern Hill the Forces align (link), The Battle of Malvern Hill and the Battlefield Terrain Walking tour (link), and the Retreat to Harrison’s Landing (link)
McClellan’s army took up a strong defensive position atop Malvern Hill. Poorly coordinated Confederate attacks led to a decisive Union victory.

July 2- Berkeley Plantation/Harrison’s Landing (link) and the Berkeley Plantation Museum (link)
The Confederates pursued the Northern army to its new base at Harrison’s Landing. Lee determined no offensive opportunities remained and ended his campaign to drive his foe away from Richmond, concluding the Seven Days’ battles.