Battle of Malvern Hill

OTHER NAME: Poindexter's Farm

CAMPAIGN: Peninsula Campaign

DATE(S): March-July 1862

PRINCIPAL COMMANDERS: Major General George McClellan [US] Major General Robert Lee [CS]

FORCES ENGAGED: 109,000 total (US 54,000; CS 55,000;)

ESTIMATED CASUALTIES: 8,355 total (US 3,000; CS 5,355;)

DESCRIPTION:

This was the sixth and last of the Seven Days' Battles. On July 1, 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable Union position on Malvern Hill. The Confederates suffered more than 5,300 casualties without gaining an inch of ground. Despite his victory, McClellan withdrew to entrench at Harrison's Landing on James River (see below), where his army was protected by gunboats. This ended the Peninsula Campaign. When McClellan's army ceased to threaten Richmond, Lee sent Jackson to operate against Maj. Gen. John Pope's army along the Rapidan River, thus initiating the Northern Virginia Campaign.

RESULTS: Union Victory

Lincoln reviews Union troops at Harrison's Landing in July 1862.