Friday, June 27, 1862
Confederate General Robert E. Lee, undaunted by the previous day's events, attacked General Fitz-John Porter's Fifth Corps once again. Porter had repositioned his line from east to west on the north side of the Chickahominy River, near Gaines Mill. Union Commanding General George McClellan ordered Porter to hold his position at all costs.
Lee again ordered General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's division to attack Porter's Fifth Corps, with subsequent attacks by Generals Ambrose Powell Hill, Daniel Harvey Hill, and James Longstreet. For the second time in two days Jackson's division arrived late, and D.H. Hill's division went in to attack, with James Longstreet's division maneuvering for diversion. General Porter's line was reinforced, and the first series of attacks were repulsed. The Confederates resumed the attacks after nightfall and broke Porter's line.
The Confederate breakthrough at Gaines Mills convinced General George McClellan that he must remove the Army of the Potomac from their current position near Richmond to Harrison's Landing on the James River. He was certain that the Confederates outnumbered his forces more than two to one, which was entirely false. The Union forces had the greater strength in numbers. McClellan was unnerved by Lee's aggressiveness and surrendered the offensive initiative.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, remaining in position behind fortifications near Fair Oaks, was not engaged at Gaines Mill. Their time away from battle was about to change abruptly.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 108-9. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 137-38.
Showing posts with label Fitz-John Porter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitz-John Porter. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Seven Days Battles - Day 2 - Battle of Mechanicsville/Beaver Dam Creek
Thursday, June 26, 1862
Confederate General Robert E. Lee took the initiative and the offensive against the Union army for the next six of the Seven Days Battles. Lee's plan at Mechanicsville was to attack the Union Fifth Corps, the right wing of the Union line under the command of General Fitz-John Porter. Lee felt that Porter's Fifth Corps was vulnerable to attack, as it was the only Union corps north of the Chickahominy River.
Lee ordered General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's division to strike the Union line first, followed in sequence by divisions led by Generals Ambrose Powell Hill, Daniel Harvey Hill, and James Longstreet. Lee's battle plans were not followed, as Jackson's men, fatigued by their long march from the Shenandoah Valley, arrived late to the battle. Due to the delay A.P. Hill began his offensive without orders, and General Porter was able to reinforce his line and repulse repeated Confederate attacks. Overall the Battle of Mechanicsville (also known as the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek) was a tactical Union victory.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was not engaged at Mechanicsville, and remained in position behind fortifications near Fair Oaks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 104-8. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 136-37.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee took the initiative and the offensive against the Union army for the next six of the Seven Days Battles. Lee's plan at Mechanicsville was to attack the Union Fifth Corps, the right wing of the Union line under the command of General Fitz-John Porter. Lee felt that Porter's Fifth Corps was vulnerable to attack, as it was the only Union corps north of the Chickahominy River.
Lee ordered General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's division to strike the Union line first, followed in sequence by divisions led by Generals Ambrose Powell Hill, Daniel Harvey Hill, and James Longstreet. Lee's battle plans were not followed, as Jackson's men, fatigued by their long march from the Shenandoah Valley, arrived late to the battle. Due to the delay A.P. Hill began his offensive without orders, and General Porter was able to reinforce his line and repulse repeated Confederate attacks. Overall the Battle of Mechanicsville (also known as the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek) was a tactical Union victory.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was not engaged at Mechanicsville, and remained in position behind fortifications near Fair Oaks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 104-8. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 136-37.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Victory near Hanover Court House
Wednesday, May 28, 1862
General Fitz-John Porter of the Union Fifth Corps won a victory over a small force of Confederates led by General Lafayette Branch to secure the right flank of General George McClellan's army. During this engagement General John Sedgwick ordered his division, which included the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, to General Porter's former position near New Bridge.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 89.
General Fitz-John Porter of the Union Fifth Corps won a victory over a small force of Confederates led by General Lafayette Branch to secure the right flank of General George McClellan's army. During this engagement General John Sedgwick ordered his division, which included the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, to General Porter's former position near New Bridge.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 89.
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