This Day In Civil War History May 31, 1862 Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2051 ^

[mainepatsfan]

May 31, 1862

Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Virginia Confederate forces strike Union troops in the Pen insular campaign. During May 1862, the Army of the Potomac, under the command of George B. McClellan, slowly advanced up the James Peninsula after sailing down the Chesapeake Bay by boat. Confederate commander Joseph Johnston had been cautiously backing his troops up the peninsula in the face of the larger Union force, giving ground until he was in the Richmond perimeter. When the Rebels had backed up to the capital, Johnston sought an opportunity to attack McClellan and halt his advance.

That chance came when McClellan's forces were straddling the Chickahominy River. The swampy ground around the river was difficult to maneuver, and the river was now a raging torrent from the spring rains. A major storm on May 31 threatened to cut the only bridge links between the two wings of the Union army.

Johnston attacked one of McClellan's corps south of the river on May 31 in a promising assault. The plan called for three divisions to hammer the Federal corps from three sides, but the inexperienced Confederates were delayed and confused. By the time the attack came, McClellan had time to muster reinforcements and drive the Rebels back. A Confederate attack the next day also produced no tangible results. The Yankees lost 5,000 casualties to the Rebels' 6,000.

But the battle had two important consequences. McClellan was horrified by the sight of his dead and wounded soldiers, and became much more cautious and timid in battle—actions that would eventually doom the campaign. And since Johnston was wounded during the battle's first day, Robert E. Lee replaced him. Lee had been serving as Confederate President Jefferson Davis' military advisor since his undistinguished service in western Virginia during the war's first year. The history of the war in the eastern theater drastically changed as Lee ascended the ranks. His leadership and exploits soon became legend.

[mainepatsfan]

"I prefer Lee to Johnston. The former is too cautious and weak under grave responsibility -- personally brave and energetic to a fault, he yet is wanting in moral firmness when pressed by heavy responsibility and is likely to be timid and irresolute in action." - George McClellan

[Northern Yankee]

I thought Lee was a tremendous general, but don't understand his decision to send in Pickett at Gettysburg.

I know that Longstreet took too long to coordinate his cannonade against Meade, but don't think it would have made a difference. The Union Army was too well entrenched.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Lee sent Pickett's Division and elements of two others across the mile-wide field at Gettysburg because 1) he thought that the Union was weak in the center because of his previous heavy attacks on the flanks, and 2) because his soldiers had in fact ruptured Union lines during full frontal assault before in the past, most notably at Gaines Mill in 1862, and during the last stages of fighting only six weeks earlier at Chancellorsville. He thought they could do it again.

As for Longstreet, he was in a snit at the time and dragged his feet in carrying out Lee's orders, wasting valuable time in the process.

[MuttTheHoople]

Lee should’ve flanked. However, he had the fire in his eye, and there was no stopping him that week. Gettysburg was the price the Confederacy paid for having Lee as a commander.

[atomicweeder]

There's another reason -- for which I share some blame (or at least my ancestors).

My great-grandfather and his brothers rode with the Confederate cavalry at Gettysburg. Normally the cavalry provides intelligence. But the Reb cavalry spotted Custer (already famous) and wanted to engage his cavalry.

So instead of gathering intelligence and reporting back to Lee, they skirmished for a couple of days with Custer, on some pointless glory chase.

As a result, Lee never got the intelligence reports that would have told him there were thousands of Union reinforcements available to plug any hole that Pickett punched in the Union line. Had he known, he never would have sent Pickett.

I think historians claim it was the first time that Lee ordered a major assault in battle without knowing where all the Union forces were.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yeah, you’re right. Also, by the time Stuart’s men reached Gettysburg, they were all out of ammo, and that’s one of the reasons Custer whipped them so thoroughly on July 3.

[trek]

"His {Lee's} leadership and exploits soon became legend."

And now most Americans, if they know the name at all, think he might be the guy who invented blue jeans.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Agreed, and your reference to Lee’s pyschology is right too. After two-days of “almost” winning, and at huge cost, he was not in any mood to back off and try a flanking movement, thereby wasting the lives of thousands of his men in his mind. It was now or never, as far as he was concerned, and he thought that he could finally win the war with one last charge. Instead, he prolonged it by almost two years.

[Northern Yankee]

I reckon so, but he was outgunned on three sides of the wheat field, where the Union forces held the high ground.

He must have known that before he ordered the charge.

Have you read Lee's Lieutenants, by Douglas Southall Freeman?

Great analysis of Lee's Generals. Freeman also says the Longstreet failed Lee miserably at Gettysburg.

[NavyCanDo]

One of the most facinating looks you ever have into what it was like for the average confederate soldier is a book called:

DIARY OF
A TAR HEEL CONFEDERATE SOLDIER: wich can be read in its entirity on the web site below.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/leon/leon.html

PREFACE
This diary was commenced for the fun of writing down my experience as a soldier from the Old North State. I never thought for a moment that I would put it in print; but now that I am getting old and have read so many histories written by our officers, but have never seen in print a history written by a private.
I know that my diary is truly the life of the man behind the gun, therefore I make bold to publish it. I am sure my experience was that of other privates, and a true history of my companies and regiments, as well as the Brigade, Division, and even Corp that I belonged to. I am certain that the men of ‘61 to ‘65 who read this will recall most vividly the camping, marching, fighting and suffering they endured in those never-to-be-forgotten days of long ago. And to the younger generation of Southern-born it will show how we endured and suffered, but still fought on for the cause we know was right.

[Eska]

My greatgrandfather was at Fair Oaks with Company C 103rd Pa Vol Inf. Interesting when I look at his discharge on the wall.

3 years after original enlistment, they made everybody reenlist, then after a few more battles, they were all captured and sent to Andersonville. Year later, Sherman sent them all up along the NC coast where they were supposed to reform into units; they didn't, all went awol. So after thhe war, there was talk about courtmartialing 4 companys but nothing come of it. I guess after being in 10-15 battles, year or so starving at Andersonville; they all said heck with war.

I have picts from 1921 family reunion, greatgrandfather center of pict. He had a beam fall on him while at andersonville, was all cripled up till he died. Would hear all kinds of stories about him. They couldn't let him out on the town. He blamed the blacks for his misfortune. Only one black family in his town, respectable people everybody said. Great grandfather would see them and go nuts, attack them with his cane, swearing, ect. Died in 1923, never got over the civil war.

[CodeToad]

Excellent read. The marching, bad weather, and continued fighting shows the level of effort required to even think of fighting a war.

[SunkenCiv]

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[BroJoeK]

"I reckon so, but he was outgunned on three sides of the wheat field, where the Union forces held the high ground. He must have known that before he ordered the charge."

Whoa fellow, hold your horses! ;-)

Everybody remembers that Lee ordered "Pickett's Charge" on July 3. Apparently nobody remembers that he ordered two other assaults on that same day, which would have turned the battle in his favor, had they succeeded.

Ewell's Second Corps was ordered to again attack Culp's Hill in the north. Success would have given him a commanding position behind and above Cemetery Ridge.

At the same time, Stuart's cavalry was ordered to ride around Ewell's left and attack Meade from the rear. Now remember, Stuart's cavalry division was about half the strength of Ewell's or Longstreet's corps.

Additionally, Longstreet had forces in reserve to reinforce "Pickett's Charge," but were never sent.

Point is this: at the same time the Pickett and Pettigrew DIVISIONS attacked Cemetery Ridge from the front, Ewell & Stuart -- a CORPS and a HALF -- were to attack from the flank and rear. On July 3, Lee had every reason to believe those COMBINED efforts would crack the Union army and crumble its lines. Then Longstreet would send in mop-up forces.

In fact, of course, all three assaults failed, while Longstreet sulked, for reasons that Lee could not know. Stuart's cavalry was just too exhausted to put up their usual vigorous fight. Culp's Hill was too well defended against Ewell's assault. Alexander's artillery overshot and missed the Union forces defending Cemetery Ridge.

In short, Lee had a larger plan, which he believed would succeed. It did not, and Lee is to blame, but not solely to blame.

[Northern Yankee]

Thanks!

Always appreciate the education for this poor Yankee!