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Battle of Mechanicsville

Battle of Beaver Dam Creek
Part of the American Civil War
Battle of Beaver Dam Creek.png
Fight at Beaver Creek
Alfred R. Waud, artist, June 26, 1862.
Date June 26, 1862 (1862-06-26)
Location Hanover County, Virginia
37°35′55″N 77°21′36″W / 37.5985°N 77.3599°W / 37.5985; -77.3599Coordinates: 37°35′55″N 77°21′36″W / 37.5985°N 77.3599°W / 37.5985; -77.3599
Result Union Tactical victory;
Confederate Strategic victory.
Belligerents
 United States (Union)  Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
George B. McClellan
Fitz John Porter
Robert E. Lee
Units involved
Army of the Potomac Army of Northern Virginia
Strength
15,631 16,356
Casualties and losses
361 total
49 killed
207 wounded
105 missing
1,484

The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the Battle of Mechanicsville or Ellerson's Mill, took place on June 26, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the first major engagement of the Seven Days Battles during the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the start of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's counter-offensive against the Union Army of the Potomac, under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, which threatened the Confederate capital of Richmond. Lee attempted to turn the Union right flank, north of the Chickahominy River, with troops under Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, but Jackson failed to arrive on time. Instead, Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill threw his division, reinforced by one of Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill's brigades, into a series of futile assaults against Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter's V Corps, which occupied defensive works behind Beaver Dam Creek. Confederate attacks were driven back with heavy casualties. Porter withdrew his corps safely to Gaines Mill.


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