Seven Days Battles 1862 Lee's Defense of Richmond (C.#133)

When General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy was in crisis. Lee changed all that in a brilliant weeklong campaign. On 26 June the Confederates struck, fighting two hard-fought battles in two days; Mechanicsville and Gaine's Mill. Although there were heavy casualties, the ferocity of the Confederate assaults convinced McClellan that he was outnumbered. He duly retreated, Lee's men pursued, and McClellan was forced to retreat. Unable to keep the Confederates at bay, the Union army was recalled to Washington. Despite losing a quarter of his men, Lee had saved Richmond, and inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Army of the Potomac. This book traces the course of this short yet crucial campaign. Books in Osprey's 'Campaign' series stand out at both secondary and college levels as works' that will engage and sustain student interest ... sophisticated maps and comprehensive graphics complement the texts without overwhelming them.Introduction - Origins of the Campaign - Chronology - Opposing Plans - Opposing Commanders - Opposing Armies - The Seven Days Campaign - Aftermath - The Battlefield Today - Further Reading - Index