Battle of Oak Grove

Battle of Oak Grove
Part of the American Civil War

Old Tavern area
DateJune 25, 1862 (1862-06-25)
Location37°30′55″N 77°19′45″W / 37.5154°N 77.3292°W / 37.5154; -77.3292
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America Confederate States (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
United States George B. McClellan
United States Samuel P. Heintzelman
Robert E. Lee
Benjamin Huger
Units involved
III Corps
(United States Army of the Potomac)
Huger's Division
( Army of Northern Virginia)
Strength
3 Brigades 1 Division
Casualties and losses
626 total
68 killed
503 wounded
55 missing[1]
441 total
66 killed
362 wounded
13 missing[1]

The Battle of Oak Grove, also known as the Battle of French's Field or King's School House, took place on June 25, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, the first of the Seven Days Battles (Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan advanced his lines with the objective of bringing Richmond within range of his siege guns. Two Union divisions of the III Corps attacked across the headwaters of White Oak Swamp, but were repulsed by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Huger's Confederate division. McClellan, who was 3 miles (4.8 km) in the rear, initially telegraphed to call off the attack, but ordered another attack over the same ground when he arrived at the front. Darkness halted the fighting. Union troops gained only 600 yards (550 m), at a cost of over a thousand casualties on both sides.

  1. ^ a b Kennedy, p. 93; Sears, p. 189.