In this segment historian Rick Britton talks about Today in Virginia History: The biggest event on this day in Virginia history was the Battle of Seven Pines–fought on May 31 and June 1, 1862, just east of Richmond. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, in which the Union Army of the Potomac reached the outskirts of Richmond.
On May 31, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm a portion of the Union Army that appeared isolated south of the Chickahominy River. The Confederate assaults, although not well coordinated, succeeded in driving back Union troops and inflicting heavy casualties. Reinforcements arrived, and both sides fed more and more troops into the action. Gen. Johnston was seriously wounded during the action, and command of the Confederate army devolved temporarily to Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith. On June 1, the Confederates renewed their assaults but made little headway. Both sides claimed victory.
Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it was the largest battle in the Eastern Theater up to that time (and second only to Shiloh in terms of casualties thus far, about 11,000 total). Gen. Johnston’s injury also had profound influence on the war: it led to the appointment of Robert E. Lee as Confederate commander. The more aggressive Lee initiated the Seven Days Battles, leading to a Union retreat in late June.

Also: Rick Britton has a new class at the Senior Center starting on Thursday, June 7th–“Virginia’s Civil War: Campaigns & Battle of the Old Dominion, Part I.” To register, or for more information, call the Senior Center Travel Office at (434) 974-6538, go to www.seniorcenterinc.org, or e-mail RHBritton@aol.com.