Early in the American Civil War, having the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia so close to the Union capital of Washington DC made a quick seizure of Richmond a popular goal of the Lincoln administration. The Union wanted to seize Richmond and end the war, and the Confederates needed to defend it. The Seven Days Battle was a large showdown that would show whose will and skill would carry the city.
Victory Goes to the Confederacy
Despite the presence of almost 120,000 Union soldiers in the area, the end result of seven days of brutal fighting was that the Confederate capital city of Richmond, Virginia was secure. A new Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, had taken command of the Army of Northern Virginia after the death of his predecessor, Joseph E. Johnston. The South needed to engage in skillful tactics and strategy to overcome a much larger opponent, which was focused on seizing Richmond and ending the Civil War swiftly. Lee’s task was to push the Union army under General George McClellan back from Virginia and give the Confederacy some much-needed breathing room.
Despite starting his offensive poorly and losing far more men than the Union, Lee continued his multi-pronged attack and achieved results. Over several days of fighting, the Confederates successfully pushed back McClellan’s army, though suffering greater casualties. Although the Union won the last individual battle at Malvern Hill, it was clear that seizing Richmond was impossible. By July 1, 1862, McClellan knew he needed to retreat and regroup, leading his army back home the next day. The Confederate capital was secure, and a long and bloody Civil War awaited.
Timeline of the Seven Days Battles
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterIn June 1862, Union General George McClellan was on the offensive in the Peninsula Campaign, hoping to seize Richmond, Virginia and end the war. The Confederate general-in-chief, Joseph E. Johnston, was wounded during the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31 and relieved of his command.
Johnston’s replacement, Robert E. Lee, decided to go on the offensive rather than prepare for a siege of Richmond. In late June, both Lee and McClellan prepared for battle, with Lee having the upper hand in intelligence-gathering thanks to fast-moving Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart.
On June 25, McClellan attacked first, clearing out some Confederate units in the area to install siege guns to target Richmond.
After maneuvering on the 26th, fighting resumed on the 27th, with the Confederates making some gains but suffering heavy casualties.
On June 28, McClellan retreated, with Lee in pursuit through the 29th.
On June 30, the Union turned the tide at the Battle of Malvern Hill and settled into a strong position.
Confederate attacks on July 1 failed to break through, but McClellan chose to retreat that night, ending the Seven Days Battles as a Confederate victory.
What Caused the Seven Days Battles?
Having the Confederate capital less than one hundred miles from the Union capital made its seizure a tantalizing goal. General George McClellan engaged in the Peninsula Campaign to approach Richmond from the southeast by moving up the Virginia Peninsula from the Atlantic coast. McClellan thought this route would be more successful, as the Confederates would know to heavily reinforce the side of Richmond facing Washington DC. The Union also benefited from controlling Fort Monroe on the Virginia Peninsula, a massive installation and the only one not to fall to the Confederacy after the Battle of Fort Sumter. Thus, McClellan could build up a large force with ease and then march it across the peninsula toward Richmond.
However, McClellan’s march was delayed by terrible weather and unexpectedly strong Confederate defensive lines. This delay gave enough time for Confederate armies to arrive from North Carolina, leading to small battles that the Union largely won. Despite the Union victories, progress toward Richmond was slow, and McClellan’s forces only approached the outskirts of the city at the end of May. On June 1, newcomer Robert E. Lee took command of the Confederate forces and planned to attack, wagering that McClellan was planning for a lengthy siege of Richmond and not anticipating a counterattack.
Why Were the Seven Days Battles Significant?
The Seven Days Battles were significant in that they saved Richmond from being captured by the Union, prolonging the Civil War and giving the Confederacy a narrow window of opportunity to gain political and economic support from European powers. Domestically, the victories were a tremendous morale booster for the South, which had been suffering defeats in the Western Theater, such as the Battle of Shiloh. Conversely, the Union was shocked by its defeats, as McClellan’s Army of the Potomac had been on the verge of taking Richmond.
Additionally, the Seven Days Battles began the illustrious career of Robert E. Lee, who had previously been working on coastal defenses. Now a prominent field commander, Lee would become known as one of the most successful generals of the Civil War. Following his victories in the Seven Days Battles, Lee would continue his offensives until the Battle of Antietam, when he unsuccessfully invaded Maryland in hopes of spooking the North into armistice negotiations. Without his victories in the Seven Days Battles, Lee likely would not have been such a formidable force during the conflict.
5 Facts About the Seven Days Battles
1. Casualties
Casualties during the week of fighting were unprecedented, totaling some 20,000 Confederate casualties versus roughly 16,000 Union casualties. The most intense battle of the week was the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, which caused a combined 15,000 casualties. The sheer volume of wounded soldiers overran hospitals in nearby Richmond, shocking the public.
2. Commanders
Union forces were led by General George B. McClellan, a West Point graduate and Army engineer who served in the Mexican-American War and later worked for the railroads. When war broke out in 1861, McClellan volunteered to return to service and was commissioned as a major general. Briefly, McClellan was named general-in-chief of all Union armies but lost this title to focus on his Peninsula Campaign with the Army of the Potomac. After failing to pursue Lee following the Battle of Antietam, McClellan was replaced as commander of the Army of the Potomac but later returned to prominence as governor of New Jersey in 1878.
Confederate forces were led by General Robert E. Lee, who was named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862. Like McClellan, Lee was a West Point graduate and veteran of the Mexican-American War. After the Seven Days Battles, Lee began a streak of military victories that elevated him to legendary status among Confederates. In April 1865, Lee ultimately surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox, hastening the end of the Civil War.
3. Number of Forces Involved
Under McClellan, the Union had roughly 120,000 men engaged in the Peninsula Campaign. A similar number of troops were available for the Confederacy. At the peak of fighting during the Seven Days Battle, about 95,000 men were engaged in combat. At the time, this was by far the largest engagement in the American Civil War to date.
4. Visiting Sites of the Seven Days Battles Today
Today, visitors can visit many of the sites of the Seven Days Battles, many of which are part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. Visitors can stay in the city of Richmond and drive out to many battle locations, including Gaines’ Mill and Malvern Hill. Both sites have walking trails with historic signposts, and the Malvern Hill site also has an available audio podcast.
5. Trivia: Lee’s First Battlefield Victory Comes at Gaines’ Mill
During the Seven Days Battles, Confederate General Robert E. Lee achieved his first battlefield victory on June 27, 1862 during the Battle of Gaines’ Mill. With almost 60,000 men, Lee outnumbered his Union foes and overran them with a large frontal attack. This contrasts with Lee’s better-known victories, where he defeated larger Union armies and was praised for unique and daring strategies.
Aftermath of the Seven Days Battles: A Political Time Bomb for McClellan
The defeat of McClellan during the Seven Days Battles would come back to haunt him in 1864 when he ran as the Democratic presidential nominee against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln. Despite his background as a general, McClellan was in the awkward position of riding the anti-war platform of the Democratic Party, which wanted to negotiate peace with the Confederacy. As a candidate, McClellan faced criticism over his wartime record, being considered ineffective as a general by many Northerners.
Ultimately, McClellan and the Democratic Party were easily defeated by Lincoln in November 1864. Although Lincoln may have been on somewhat shaky political ground going into 1864, the rapid accumulation of Union military victories that summer and autumn shored up the president’s popularity, especially the Battle of Atlanta. Seizing the major Confederate city was a public relations boon for Lincoln’s administration and effectively sank the anti-war Democratic platform.
