Battle of Chickahominy
This bird’s eye view shows Richmond (in the background) and depicts the brutal Battle of Chickahominy (also known as First Cold Harbor and Gaines’ Mill), which was actually fought on June 27 and 28, 1862. Lee struck Union general Fitz John Porter at Gaines’ Mill while McClellan, erroneously thinking his forces were outnumbered since part of them were trapped south of the swollen Chickahominy River. The river was far more volatile than Union forces initially appreciated. Prone to flooding, it could easily submerge low-lying bridges across it. One such low-lying bridge is depicted in this watercolor drawing by Philadelphia-born soldier artist William M’Ilvaine, a member of the 5th New York Infantry, who served under McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign.
This bird’s eye view shows Richmond (<em>in the background</em>) and depicts the brutal Battle of Chickahominy (also known as First Cold Harbor and Gaines’ Mill), which was actually fought on June 27 and 28, 1862. Lee struck Union general Fitz John Porter at Gaines’ Mill while McClellan, erroneously thinking his forces were outnumbered since part of them were trapped south of the swollen Chickahominy River. The river was far more volatile than Union forces initially appreciated. Prone to flooding, it could easily submerge low-lying bridges across it. One such low-lying bridge is depicted in this watercolor drawing by Philadelphia-born soldier artist William M’Ilvaine, a member of the 5th New York Infantry, who served under McClellan during the Peninsula Campaign.