The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place from May 31 – June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War.
On May 31, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, having retreated to the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia, attempted to overwhelm two Union corps south of the Chickahominy River, which separated them from the rest of the Army of the Potomac. The Confederate assaults, though not well coordinated, succeeded in driving back the VI Corps and inflicting heavy casualties. Both sides fed more and more troops into the action. Supported by the III Corps and John Sedgwick’s division of Edwin V. Sumner’s II Corps (which crossed the rain-swollen river on Grapevine Bridge), the Federal position was finally stabilized. Gen. Johnston was seriously wounded during the action, and command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was assumed temporarily by Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith ; Gen. Robert E. Lee soon assumed permanent command. On June 1, the Confederates renewed their assaults against the Federals, who had brought up more reinforcements, but made little headway. Both sides claimed victory, but neither's accomplishment was impressive. George B. McClellan's advance on Richmond was halted and Johnston's army fell back into the Richmond defensive works. Confederate Brigadier General Robert H. Hatton was killed.
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