Embarrassed by the recent setback at New Hope Church, Union General Sherman ordered an ill-advised attack on entrenched confederate positions.   More »

With Richmond in the distance, Union General George B. McClellan divided his army in two. Confederate General Joseph Johnston struck immediately.   More »

After weeks of mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s capital hosted a two-day Grand Review of its victorious armies.   More »

On June 26, 1862, Robert E. Lee launched the first of what would become known as the Seven Days Battles at Mechanicsville.   More »

All the horrors of prison life were experienced by hundreds of thousands of captives, Union and Confederate, during the Civil War.   More »

Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered his army to make a costly frontal attack against Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s wall of artillery.   More »

Entrenched Federals at Gaines’ Mill on the outskirts of Richmond on June 27, 1862, repulsed repeated Confederate assaults until the final attack of the day.   More »

This American Civil War timeline covers the events of 1862, in which Confederate forces in Virginia and the Union navy both experienced substantial success.   More »

Robert E. Lee turned to his capable commander, John B. Goron, to conduct the last great Confederate attack to break the Siege of Petersburg.
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Both the North and the South used the Western Theater as dumping grounds, especially for leaders seen as incompetent.
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