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Special Event
Event
Gaines' Mill Battle Anniversary Tour
This event has already occurred. This page is provided for reference only.
Fee:
Free. FreeLocation:
Mississippi Monument, Watt House Road, MechanicsvilleDates & Times
Date:
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Time:
10:00 AM
Duration:
2 hours
Type of Event
Hike
Talk
Walk
Two hours.
Description
The June, 27, 1862 Battle of Gaines’ Mill was the largest battle of the war in Virginia up to that point. Only Shiloh in Tennessee was larger. Five hours of combat resulted in about 15,000 casualties.
The battle resulted from Gen. Robert E. Lee shifting his army to destroy a detachment of the Union Army of the Potomac. The Confederates launched several uncoordinated attacks throughout the afternoon. By evening, their entire army was drawn up and ready for a final, massive assault.
Park Ranger Bert Dunkerly will lead a combination car caravan-walking tour of three key areas of the battlefield. Participants will examine the early Confederate assaults, focusing on the attack of the Louisiana Brigade, then follow in the footsteps of the Texas Brigade, which broke through. Finally, the group will examine the desperate stand made by the 83rd Pennsylvania and a costly counterattack by the 16th Michigan.
The walking portions of tour will cover uneven ground. Water, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended. The tour will take 2 hours and begins at the Mississippi Monument on Watt House Road.
More information
Reservation or Registration: No
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