Battle of White Oak Swamp

Battle of White Oak Swamp
Part of the American Civil War

Battle at White Oak Swamp Bridge
Alfred R. Waud, artist, June 1862
DateJune 30, 1862 (1862-06-30)
Location37°28′15″N 77°12′37″W / 37.4708°N 77.21025°W / 37.4708; -77.21025
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
William B. Franklin Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Units involved
Units from Army of the Potomac Units from Army of Northern Virginia
Casualties and losses
~100[1] 15 total
3 killed
12 wounded[2]

The Battle of White Oak Swamp took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Seven Days Battles (Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. As the Union Army of the Potomac retreated southeast toward the James River, its rearguard under Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin stopped Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's divisions at the White Oak Bridge crossing, resulting in an artillery duel, while the main Battle of Glendale raged two miles (3 km) farther south around Frayser's Farm. White Oak Swamp is generally considered to be part of the larger Glendale engagement. Because of this resistance from Brig. Gen. William B. Franklin's VI Corps, Jackson was prevented from joining the consolidated assault on the Union Army at Glendale that had been ordered by General Robert E. Lee, producing an inconclusive result, but one in which the Union Army avoided destruction and was able to assume a strong defensive position at Malvern Hill.

  1. ^ Burton, p. 257.
  2. ^ Burton, p. 257; Salmon, p. 119.