Battle of Oak Grove | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
Old Tavern area | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States (Union) | Confederate States (Confederacy) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
George B. McClellan Samuel P. Heintzelman |
Robert E. Lee Benjamin Huger | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
III Corps ( 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.