Battle of Seven Pines, Sandston, Henrico County, Virginia

Significance: 1) On May 31, Confederate General Johnston ordered a morning assault on two US corps (III & IV) that were south of the Chickahominy River. Poor staff work inter-mingled divisions or put them onto the wrong roads; it took hours to sort out the confusion.

2) Tired of waiting, Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill finally attacked Brig. Gen. Casey's Division about 1 P.M., and drove the US troops out of their 1st Line of defenses at the Twin Houses.

3) After some delay, Maj. Gen. Heintzelman marched troops on the Williamsburg Road from near Bottom's Bridge to reinforce Brig. Gen. Keyes' division.

4) Maj. Gen. Sumner's Corps (II) crossed the flooded river about 2 P.M., using the Grapevine and Lower bridges. Maj. Gen. Sedgwick's division supported the US right flank.

5) Brig. Gen. Whiting's division attacked Sedgwick 4 P.M. down the Nine-Mile Road but made little headway. Johnston was wounded on Nine-Mile Road.

6) Maj. Gen. Huger diverted south on Charles City Road but could find no road to the US flank.

7) Repeated frontal assaults by Maj. Gens. Hill and Longstreet drove the Federals from their 2nd Line of defenses but fresh US troops held the 3rd Line at dark.

8) June 1: Disjointed Confederate attacks along the railroad and against the 3rd Line were repulsed. Attacks were called off at noon, and the Confederates withdrew.

Survey number: HALS VA-29

Building/structure dates: ca. 1862 Initial Construction

civil wars battlefields sandston highland pines seven pines sandston henrico county virginia casey heintzelman daniel h hill historic american landscapes survey huger johnston keyes francine lieberman longstreet sedgwick chris stevens sumner whiting ultra high resolution high resolution american civil war city plans plan library of congress

1861 - 1865

Library of Congress

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