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| McClellan-Lee |
The first battle was the battle of Oak Grove. Gen. McClellan tried to advanced his lines with the objective of bringing Richmond in range of his siege guns. The battle began when two union divisions from the III Corps attacked across the headwaters of White Oak Swamp, but were repulsed by Maj. Gen Huger's Division. The end result was that the Union troops gained only 600 yards, at a cost of over a thousand casualties on both sides.
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| Beaver Dam Creek |
The second battle, Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the Battle of Mechanicsville or Ellerson's Mill was the first real engagement. Lee's first counter offensive against McClellan. Lee attempted to turn the Union flank bet was repulsed, Gen. Stonewall Jackson arrived late. Gen A.P. Hill threw in his division in the vain attempts at the works at Beaver Dam Creek, which were manned by the V corps under Gen. Fitz John Porter who after the battle fell back to Gaines Mill. There were nearly 1,700 casualties on both sides.
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| Gaines Mill |
The Battle of Gaines' Mill, also known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27 the third battle in the campaign. Lee renewed his attacks on the V corps, at Gaines Mill. 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 on the attackers. 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 Gen McClellan to give up Richmond. Though he could have defeated Lee's forces.
To be continued...