Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm facts for kids

Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm
Part of the American Civil War
Date June 27, 1862 (1862-06-27) – June 28, 1862 (1862-06-28) Location Henrico County, Virginia 37°33′12″N 77°18′52″W / 37.5532°N 77.3145°W / 37.5532; -77.3145 Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
William F. Smith Winfield S. Hancock	John B. Magruder Robert A. Toombs George T. Anderson
Units involved
1 Brigade (Army of the Potomac)	1–2 Brigades (Army of Northern Virginia)
Strength
1 Brigade	1–2 Brigades
Casualties and losses
189	438

The Battle of Garnett's and Golding's Farms happened on June 27–28, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia. It was a small part of the Seven Days Battles during the American Civil War's Peninsula Campaign.

While a much bigger fight, the Battle of Gaines' Mill, was happening north of the Chickahominy River, Confederate General John B. Magruder sent his troops to check on the Union lines south of the river. This turned into a small attack at Garnett's Farm. The Confederates attacked again the next morning, June 28, near Golding's Farm. Both attacks were easily stopped by the Union soldiers. This battle didn't achieve much, but it made the Union general, George B. McClellan, believe he was being attacked from both sides of the Chickahominy River.

What Happened Before

The War So Far

Richmond, Virginia, was the capital of the Southern states (the Confederacy). Because of this, it was very important for both sides in the American Civil War. Union General George B. McClellan and his Army of the Potomac started a plan to capture Richmond. This plan was called the Peninsula Campaign.

At first, McClellan's army was doing well. But by the end of May 1862, his army was split. Part of it was north of the Chickahominy River, and part was south. On May 31, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston tried to attack the Union soldiers south of the river. This fight was called the Battle of Seven Pines. It didn't have a clear winner. General Johnston was wounded, and the next day, Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States, put General Robert E. Lee in charge of the Confederate armies.

There was a quiet period for a few weeks. Then, on June 25, the Union army attacked at Oak Grove. Lee's soldiers stopped them. The next day, the Confederates attacked in the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek. The Confederates lost many soldiers and were pushed back. Even though the Union won, General McClellan ordered his troops to retreat to a strong position at Boatswain's Swamp.

On June 27, the Confederate armies launched a huge attack at Gaines's Mill. This became one of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsula Campaign. While that big battle was going on, another smaller fight was starting near two farms to the south: Garnett's and Golding's Farms.

Who Fought Here

Union Forces

Confederate Forces

The Battle

This map shows the main areas of the Garnett's & Golding's Farms Battlefield.

James M. Garnett's farm was located on a hill near the Chickahominy River. Close by was Golding's Plain, which belonged to Simon Gouldin. Between the two farms was a deep valley with a creek and a hill called Garnett's Hill.

Union soldiers from Brigadier General William T. H. Brooks's group, part of William F. "Baldy" Smith's division, started setting up cannons on Garnett's Hill on the night of June 26. Brigadier General Winfield Scott Hancock's group continued this work the next morning, June 27, 1862. They placed six groups of reserve cannons.

While the Union soldiers were busy, Confederate soldiers from Major General David Rumph Jones's division took their positions. Brigadier General Robert Toombs's group was on the west side of the valley. Colonel George T. Anderson's group was to the northwest, less than a mile from the Garnett house. Confederate cannon crews were told to fire at the Union soldiers whenever they had a chance. The Union soldiers were told to avoid a full battle.

This led to a quick exchange of cannon fire that lasted about an hour. The Confederates then pulled back. The Union had 23 cannons in good positions, while the Confederates had 10 cannons in an open field. Later, some of Major General Lafayette McLaws's men moved toward the Union line at Garnett's farm around 4 p.m.. But they quickly retreated after facing heavy fire for ten minutes.

There was a quiet period for a few hours. Then, Toombs attacked the Union line around 7 p.m.. He was supposed to just "feel out" the enemy, meaning to check their strength. Instead, he started a "sharp and sustained fight." After dark, Toombs's attack was pushed back by Winfield Hancock's group after about an hour and a half of fighting. The Confederates had about 271 soldiers killed or wounded during the day's battle. The fighting at Garnett's farm didn't achieve much for either side.

The next day, June 28, Union and Confederate soldiers fought again near the Golding house. General Jones thought the Union soldiers near the house might be leaving. He told Toombs to do a "reconnaissance-in-force." This meant to send a strong group of soldiers to see if the Union was really pulling back. However, Toombs turned this mission into a full attack, moving forward with some of Anderson's men. Before he could be stopped, the Confederates were already pushed back by the Union VI Corps.

What Happened Next

In the two days of fighting at Garnett's and Golding's Farms, the Confederates had 438 soldiers killed or wounded. The Union forces had 189 casualties. Anderson's men, who faced most of the Union counterattack, had 156 casualties on the second day.

This battle didn't change much on its own. But it did help convince Union General McClellan that he was being attacked from both sides of the Chickahominy River. On the evening of June 28, McClellan met with his generals. He said that attacking Richmond now could lead to his army being defeated. So, they decided the Union forces would start to retreat. Union General William B. Franklin noted, "The commanding general announced to us his purpose to begin a movement to the James River on the next day." McClellan's decision to move his army to the James River set the stage for the next battle, the Battle of Savage's Station.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Garnett's and Golding's Farm para niños