On this date 150 years ago, the Battle of Gaines' Mill/Cold Harbor was fought. The morning of June 27th was one that Confederate General Robert E. Lee was pleased with, even with the heavy losses from the day before. Union General George McClellan was moving down the Chickahominy River, just as General Lee was hoping for, but he knew that he had to keep applying pressure to General Porter’s Corps. Lee knew that General Jackson was ready for action, with over 18,000 men in Jackson’s command alone, and was contemplating the two options that the Union troops could take. Lee knew that the Union troops could prepare to meet Jackson when he arrived on their flank or they could abandon their positions altogether north of the Chickahominy River. The battle of Gaines’ Mill would move on with 95,000 men combined in battle on June 27th. Lee preferred that Union troops abandon their positions because it would force them to move further back from Richmond and reorganize somewhere else.

General Lee renewed his attack on General Porter’s Corps but Porter’s Corps was reinforced to total more than 35,000 men, who held a naturally strong position. Porter’s men also had been building barricades and placing artillery batteries on the top of the hill to add to the already strong line. The Union troops had the advantage in terms of their position, but the Confederates had a plan in action. General Porter was able to hold the position until late in the afternoon, thanks to disjointed and confused Confederate attacks. Jackson had taken the wrong road and lost track of time, which affected the timing of the Confederate attacks. The Confederates would not be disjointed for long and by dusk they were able to successfully attack Porter’s line and forced the Union soldiers back toward the river. Brigadier General John Hood’s “Texas Brigade” broke through on the western end of Porter’s line, along with Jackson’s men breaching the Union defense near the road to the Chickahominy River.

The Union soldiers were forced back and needed to have a course of action. The Battle of Gaines’ Mill saved Richmond, but casualties were high. There were 6,000 Union soldiers killed, wounded, missing or captured in just seven hours of fighting. Gaines’ Mill was the first battlefield victory for General Lee as army commander, but also incurred a large loss of soldiers. Approximately 9,000 Confederates had been killed, wounded, or captured, which brought the total causalities to 15,000 for the day. General McClellan saw Gaines’ Mill as a total disaster and blamed leaders in Washington for it. The tide had changed in the war, whether those involved knew it or not.