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Civil War Illustrations

Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks)

The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks (or Fairoaks), took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign. On May 31, 1862, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm two Federal corps that appeared isolated south of the Chickahominy River. The Confederate assaults succeeded in driving back the Federal IV Corps and inflicting heavy casualties. Reinforcements arrived, and both sides fed more and more troops into the action. The Federal position was finally stabilized with support from the III Corps and Sedgwick's division of the II Corps. On June 1, the Confederates renewed their assaults against the Federal troops, 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 marked the end of the Union's advance on Richmond.

New York State troops that were involved in the Battle of Seven Pines, according to New York in the War of the Rebellion (vol. 1), were 6th Cavalry; Field & Staff, Batteries A, B, D, G, H, 1st Artillery; Battery A, 2d Battalion Artillery; 4th Independent Battery; 5th Independent Battery; 6th Independent Battery; 7th Independent Battery; 8th Independent Battery; 34th Infantry; 36th Infantry; 37th Infantry; 38th Infantry; 40th Infantry; 42d Infantry; 52d Infantry; 55th Infantry; 56th Infantry; 57th Infantry; 61st Infantry; 62d Infantry; 63d Infantry; 64th Infantry; 65th Infantry; 66th Infantry; 67th Infantry; 69th Infantry (Irish Brigade); 70th Infantry; 71st Infantry; 72d Infantry; 73d Infantry; 74th Infantry; 81st Infantry; 82d Infantry; 85th Infantry; 87th Infantry; 88th Infantry; 92d Infantry; 96th Infantry; 98th Infantry;100th Infantry.

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Battle of Seven Pines Gallery