The Chickahominy River & Seven Days' Battles

During the Civil War's Seven Days' Battles from 25 June to 1 July 1862, many engagements occurred along and near the Chickahominy River. Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan led the Army of the Potomac. His goal was to capture ...

Seven Days Battles

Mechanicsville

Mechanicsville was held by Union outposts when, in the early afternoon of June 26, 1862, A. P. Hill reached it coming from the north. The Unionists were quickly driven back to their position on Beaver Dam Creek. Then D. H. ...

Seven Days Battles

Glendale (Frayser’s Farm)

This was the extreme left of the Union line at Glendale, and was held by Hooker’s Division. When McCall (just to the north) was broken, Hooker, supported by Burns’s brigade, drove the Confederates back. In the night the ...

Seven Days Battles

Malvern Hill

Here Lee met Longstreet and Jackson in the morning of July 1, 1862. D. H. Hill reported the strength of the Union position on Malvern Hill; but Lee, having cause to believe the Unionists were weakening, prepared to attack. ...

Seven Days’ Battles

Glendale (Frayser’s Farm)

Willis Church Road runs from here to Malvern Hill. A large part of Union Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac followed this road south toward the James River, four miles ahead, near the end of the ...

Seven Days Battles

Gaines’s Mill

Here Lee and Stonewall Jackson conferred in the morning of June 27, 1862. Jackson’s troops halted here until A. P. Hill arrived from Beaver Dam Creek. Hill then moved southward by Gaines’s Mill and Longstreet turned to the east. ...

Seven Days Battles

Gaines’s Mill

Along the slopes of Boatswain Creek, facing north and west, extended Porter’s position in the afternoon of June 27, 1862. The line was held by Sykes’s division facing north, and Morell’s facing west. Later McCall was thrown in to ...

Seven Days’ Battles

Gaines’s Mill

Half a mile south is Boatswain Creek. The battle that was begun at Gaines’s Mill by A. P. Hill, following Porter’s rear guard, culminated at the Union position on Boatswain Creek. There A. P. Hill and Longstreet, moving eastward, ...

Seven Days Battles

Gaines’s Mill

This is the site of Gaines’s Mill, which gave its name to the Battle of June 27, 1862. Here A. P. Hill’s advance guard, following Porter, came in contact with the Union rearguard. After a short action the Unionists ...

Seven Days Battles

Porter’s Withdrawal

Along this road Fitz-John Porter withdrew from Beaver Dam Creek in the early morning of June 27, 1862. McClellan, having learned that Stonewall Jackson was approaching Porter’s rear, late at night ordered the withdrawal to another position. This was ...