Gaines' Mill - June 27, 1862 - 2:30 to 3:30pm

American Battlefield Trust’s map of the Battle of Gaines’ Mill on June 27, 1862 from 2:30 to 3:30pm

The earliest Confederate attacks at Gaines’ Mill were by fresh troops from Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill’s division, who not participated in the attacks the day before along Beaver Dam Creek. The North Carolina brigade of Brig. Gen. Lawrence O’Bryan Branch struck the Federal line near its center, where the V Corps brigade of Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin held the line. Georgia and Tennessee regiments under Brig. Gens. J. R. Anderson and James Archer also advanced through the woods. Infantry and artillery fire from Griffin’s regiments, as well as the thick vegetation and swamps of Boatswain’s Creek, prevented the Southerners from gaining any ground. Later in the afternoon, Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s division would attack over the same terrain. The Yankees held the high open ground south of the creek, and the wooded ground in their front is locally known as Griffin’s Woods.

Learn More: Battle of Gaines’ Mill