Battles at Richmond

On Thursday (April 11, 2013), we arrived in Richmond and went to the old Iron Works that has been converted into the National Park Service.  This is where the Confederates built all their machinery.  The first battle we learned about was the "Seven Days War" which was between McClellan and the Confederate’s favorite general Robert E. Lee, In 1862, McClellan’s mission was to take over Richmond but Lee didn’t like that at all. Brutally, for seven day, Lee and McClellan’s armies fought, but in the end, Lee was victorious.  15,000 soldiers died in only one battle (Gaines Mill).  Malvern Hill, the Federals didn't dig any trenches while they defended the hill, but stood in formation, so the slaughter was immense. Later, in 1864, the Union general Ulysses S. Grant tried to take Richmond but again, Lee was able to repulse Grant’s attacks. At Cold Harbor, we saw the orignal Confederate trenches that were built.  The Confederates were fighting Grant's army behind trenches and obstructions they made from the trees they cut down.  The Union attacked these fortifications but Lee was able to repulse them.  The Union lost over 6000 men, most of them in 1 hours time.  Lee was victorious again but not for long.  In 1865, Lee would lose the battle at Petersburg and have to evacuate the Confederate president and all Confederate soldiers. Taking Richmond, Grant would follow Lee’s armies all the way to the Appomattox Courthouse where Lee will finally surrender and the end of the Civil War.[MH]