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BATTLE // May 31, 1862

Battle of Seven Pines

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Overview

The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Seven Pines was fought in Henrico County, Virginia on May 31–June 1, 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign. The engagement involved roughly 34,000 Union troops under George B. McClellan, with corps commanded by Erasmus D. Keyes, Samuel P. Heintzelman, and Edwin V. Sumner, opposing approximately 39,000 Confederate forces under Joseph E. Johnston, with James Longstreet, D. H. Hill, and G. W. Smith among the principal subordinates. Both sides suffered substantial losses — 5,431 Union and 6,134 Confederate casualties — making it one of the costlier engagements of the Peninsula Campaign to that point. The battle's most consequential result was the wounding of Confederate commander Johnston, which led to a change in Confederate army leadership during the campaign, a development with significant implications for subsequent operations in the defense of Richmond.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • United States34,000
    medium
  • Confederate States39,000
    medium

Confederate States fielded a 1.1 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • United States5,431
    medium16% loss rate
  • Confederate States6,134
    medium16% loss rate

Commanders (8)

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Related

6 sibling battles · 2 factions

Last verified June 2026
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