"Attended" the American Civil War Museum's 2021 virtual symposium today. Gary Gallagher did a presentation on the importance of the 7 Days. He said that this series of battles was more important in total impact on the war "than Vicksburg and Gettysburg combined." Said Vicksburg was largely symbolic as the Mississippi hadn't been a Confederate river for some time. I think his point was that the war ends if the Union takes Richmond, but Johnston's wounding results in Lee, and Lee results in Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, etc. Curious about anyone's thoughts? I'm not one to say July 1-4, 1863 was THE week in the War, but I certainly had not thought of June 25 - July 1,1862, being THE week in the way Gallagher presented it today.
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I think the Seven Days is under-appreciated, though I do not think ultimate victory was super close. Simply seizing the capital does not end the war in my mind, Grant and Lincoln both realized this late in the war. They would have had to destroy the army in my mind, not just seize Richmond. The Americans lost their capital in the Revolution but kept fighting. I think by the time of the conclusion of the battle of Seven Pines the momentum had changed, and McClellan was at a point where he was believing the inflated troop number estimates he was receiving. I think those numbers combined with not receiving McDowell's Corps took the wind out of his sails, the fighting spirit was gone. The potential for an assault on Richmond was there, particularly if McClellan would have struck at Richmond while Porter was holding the line on the opposite side of the Chickahominy during the battle of Mechanicsville. Magruder likely could not have held up against a determined assault in front of Richmond. But how far things would have gone it is really tough to say. If guys like Hooker and Kearny had their way they would have likely at least taken a shot. It is interesting to consider the possibilities.
Just shared in my response to Michael, was really suprised by the strength of his conviction on this idea. The idea of destroying the AoNV . . . you're right that Lincoln and Grant both believed Lee was the target, not cities/territory. Was that as clear in June 1862? There was no grand (and romanticized) AoNV at that point. McClellan definitely was falling into the trap of believing the numbers. Though it's almost 70 years old at this point, Caton's Mr. Lincoln's Army is still a great read about this. He tells of McClellans "intelligence" officers, former investigators with the railrods, who were instrumental in reporting these inflated numbers and McClellan's absolute faith in these reports. You're right about Hooker and Kearny; I think it was our CWBC friend Ryan who said in one of the other blog posts that his death was the most significant general death in the East for the Union. Definitely up there.
@Mark Blanchard I endorse the above message! There's a lot of disquiet with McClellan's decisions as he concedes the initiative to the rebels.
After the battles, Gen. Lee set up the two corps system with Longstreet & Jackson. Henry Hunt, especially at Malvern Hill, preformed remarkably. It surely showed that the Artillery Reserve Unit was worth keeping. Sure did come in handy on July 3rd, 1863.
That is an interesting theory about June 25th-July 1st 1862 being "THAT WEEK." It is worth noting that Northern Morale had faded somewhat with McClellan, though a lot of folks, including many soldiers, still held McClellan in high regard. Frustration was growing in Washington & perhaps this was part of the reason McClellan was relieved after Antietam. ( See the Mid-term elections of 62 & not pursuing Lee after Antietam) (Obviously, lol.)
Thanks for sharing---quite the idea. Going to enjoy looking more into this week of the war.
----Michael
Yeah, a lot of interesting fodder to consider. I think what surprised me was the force with which Gallagher said it was the most pivotal week in the whole war and it isn't even close. I just hadn't thought about it in that manner. He was adamant in his opinion that the war ends if Johnston was not injured and McClellan takes Richmond. No Lee, no AoNV as we know it now.