jul 1, 1862 - Lesser known battles Battle of Malvern Hill

Description:

The Battle of Malvern Hill took place in Henrico County, Virginia. General Lee led his men into battle against the Union troops led by George B. McClellan.

After seven days of fighting, The Federal Army of the Potomac stopped at the James River outside of Richmond. They had support from warships on the river behind them. McClellan’s men selected Malvern Hill as a defensible position, hoping to provoke a Confederate attack. McClellan had set up guns aiming towards the east, north and south.

Lee believed he could force a breakthrough and victory despite the confederates being outnumbered. Lee started artillery fire, the Federal Army answer by firing back, neither of these attacks could weaken the enemy. Nonetheless Lee ordered his infantry to attack the hill, sending his men towards a certain dead. The attacks were not coordinated properly and advanced across the open ground at different times; most attacks stalled well short of the hill’s crest. This tactic seems familiar to the one used during the battle of Gettysburg. Casualties were suffered but could be worse if McClellan had not ordered his troops to retreat. Nonetheless this battle turned out a tactile victory for the Union.

Source: (https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/malvern-hill)