Lee's Mill

City of Newport News, VA  |  Apr 5, 1862

In early April, 1862, the Army of the Potomac moved up the Virginia Peninsula from Fort Monroe in two columns. On the right, the III Corps marched toward the Yorktown defenses, and on the left the IV Corps advanced toward Williamsburg. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan planned to trap the Confederates in the two-pronged maneuver with the III Corps holding Maj. Gen. John Magruder’s forces at Yorktown while the IV Corps under Brig. Gen. Erasmus Keyes blocked their retreat toward Williamsburg. McClellan’s maps, however, incorrectly showed the Warwick River flowing parallel to the James River; he was unaware that the Warwick partially blocked Keyes’ advance. Lee’s Mill on the Warwick was defended by one brigade from Brig. Gen. Lafayette McLaws’ division and supported by the Peninsula Artillery. Brig. Gen. William F. Smith’s division led the Union advance toward the mill. Halted by the Confederate defenses on April 5, Smith deployed his three brigades under heavy fire along the Warwick. Keyes reported to McClellan that “No part of this line as far as discovered can be taken by assault without an enormous waste of life.” The battle cost few casualties, but thwarted McClellan’s maneuver plans and convinced him to besiege the Confederates.

All battles of the Peninsula Campaign

Hampton Roads
Newport News, Norfok, and Portsmouth, VA  |  Mar 8 - 9, 1862
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 393
Union: 369
Confederate: 24
Lee's Mill
City of Newport News, VA  |  Apr 5, 1862
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 240
Union: 165
Confederate: 75
Yorktown
York County and Newport News, VA  |  Apr 5 - May 4, 1862
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 482
Union: 182
Confederate: 300
Williamsburg
York County and Williamsburg, VA  |  May 5, 1862
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 3,843
Union: 2,283
Confederate: 1,560
Seven Pines
Henrico County, VA  |  May 31 - Jun 1, 1862
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 13,736
Union: 5,739
Confederate: 7,997
Beaver Dam Creek
Hanover County, VA  |  Jun 26, 1862
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 1,700
Union: 400
Confederate: 1,300
Gaines' Mill
Hanover County, VA  |  Jun 27, 1862
Result: Confederate Victory
Est. Casualties: 15,500
Union: 6,800
Confederate: 8,700
Glendale
Henrico County, VA  |  Jun 30, 1862
Result: Inconclusive
Est. Casualties: 7,470
Union: 3,797
Confederate: 3,673
Malvern Hill
Henrico County, VA  |  Jul 1, 1862
Result: Union Victory
Est. Casualties: 7,700
Union: 2,100
Confederate: 5,600

Related Battles

City of Newport News, VA | April 5, 1862
Result: Confederate Victory
Commanders
Forces Engaged
3,800
Union
2,000
Confed.
1,800
Estimated Casualties
240
Union
165
Confed.
75

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