Gaines Mill, VA

Date(s): June 27, 1862

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Peninsula Campaign [March-September 1862]

Battles in Campaign:

• Hampton Roads, VA - March 8-9, 1862 B

• Yorktown, VA - April 5-May 4, 1862 B

• Williamsburg, VA - May 5, 1862 B

• Eltham's Landing, VA - May 7, 1862 D¹

• Drewry's Bluff, VA - May 15, 1862 B

• Hanover Courthouse, VA - June 30, 1863 C¹

• Seven Pines, VA - May 31-June 1, 1862 B

• Oak Grove, VA - June 25, 1862 D¹

• Beaver Dam Creek, VA - June 26, 1862 B

• Gaines' Mill, VA - June 27, 1862 A

• Garnetts & Goldings Farm, VA - June 27-28, 1862 D¹

• Savage's Station, VA - June 29, 1862 C¹

• White Oak Swamp, VA - June 30, 1862 C¹

• Glendale, VA - June 30, 1862 B

• Malvern Hill, VA - July 1, 1862 A

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter

• Confederate: Gen. Robert E. Lee

Principal Forces:

• Union: 34,214

• Confederate: 57,018

Description:

• This was the third of the Seven Days’ Battles.

• On June 27, 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee renewed his attacks against Porter’s V Corps, which had established a strong defensive line behind Boatswain’s Swamp north of the Chickahominy River.

• Porter’s reinforced V Corps held fast for the afternoon against disjointed Confederate attacks, inflicting heavy casualties.

• At dusk, the Confederates finally mounted a coordinated assault that broke Porter’s line and drove his soldiers back toward the river.

• The Federals retreated across the river during the night.

• Defeat at Gaines’ Mill convinced McClellan to abandon his advance on Richmond and begin the retreat to James River.

• Gaines’ Mill saved Richmond for the Confederacy in 1862.

Photo Gallery:²

Gaines Mills Battlefield	Gaines Mills Battlefield	Watt Family Farm	Confederate Pursuit
Union Artillery	Porter's Union Artillery	Whiting's Advance	Hood's Attack
Site of Hood's Attack	The Battle Ends - Area of Porter's Retreat	The Cavalry Charge	Mistaken Identity
View from Hill Looking Southwest	View from Hill Looking Northeast Along Porter's Line	View from Hill Looking Northeast Along Porter's Line to Watt House	Site of Griffin's Union Troops East of Watt House

Classification³: A

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 6,800

• Confederate: 8,700

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Richmond National Battlefield - National Park Service

• The Peninsula Campaign - HistoryAnimated.com

• The Battle of Gaines' Mill - Wikipedia

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or mis

Revised 06/05/2008