The American Civil War was an exceptionally deadly war that lasted longer than either side anticipated. A particularly fatal set of battles was the Seven Days Battles at the start of the war, which set the tone for things to come. The Seven Days Battles lasted from June 25 to July 1, 1862 and were the culmination of Major General George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, an unsuccessful attempt to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.
The new Confederate General, Robert E. Lee had only been in command of rebel forces since June 1st but his aggressive style forced the Union to retreat from Richmond. From June 25th to June 30th, Lee and McClellan engaged in five battles, with neither side achieving a decisive victory. The final battle of the Seven Days was fought on July 1. The Battle of Malvern Hill was fierce, with fragmented frontal assaults from Lee against McClellan’s superior strong artillery. The Confederates suffered huge casualties and it was a clear victory for the Union. Despite this success, McClellan retreated to the safety of Harrison’s Landing on the James River, where Union gunboats provided added protection.
In just a week of battle, McClellan suffered a startling 16,000 casualties, while Lee’s casualties were even greater, totally 20,000 dead and wounded. Richmond, however, remained in Confederate control. The failure of the campaign was a humiliating setback for the Union, a strong indication that the war would not be as brief as everyone had hoped.
The collections of The Connecticut Historical Society include the diary of Charles W. Smith and the uniform of James S. McKenzie, who both served with the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery during the Seven Days. To see these artifacts and others relating to the Civil War, visit the Connecticut Historical Society’s research center at One Elizabeth Street in Hartford. The research center is open Thursday 12-5 and Friday-Saturday 9-5.
