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The Civil War & Reconstruction

#158 SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES: OAK GROVE AND MECHANICSVILLE

The Civil War & Reconstruction

Richard Youngdahl

History

4.84.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 July 2016

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In which we discuss the first two battles of the Seven Days' Campaign, Oak Grove (June 25, 1862) and Mechanicsville (June 26).

Transcript

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0:00.0

We had been upon the top of the hill about 15 or 20 minutes when the firing began again

0:13.1

and gradually approached.

0:15.3

I kept my eyes fixed upon the open space in the direction of cold harbor and soon saw

0:20.0

the pickets slowly falling back and firing in retreat.

0:24.6

As they halted to fire and finally fell back to a little rivulet where we were stationed.

0:30.3

The artillery firing that we heard advancing now turned off and rattled furiously down

0:35.1

through the woods and soon volleys of muscatry mingled with the sound.

0:40.0

By and by saw a single horseman appear and another and another and soon several wheeled

0:45.0

around in the open space and the sunlight flashed on the polished surface of a brass field

0:50.2

piece.

0:52.2

It was the enemy planning his cannon and he had selected a splendid position for his

0:56.2

battery.

0:57.2

See, see, I said, they are planning their cannon.

1:01.3

Those are our cannons said Sergeant Fortiscue.

1:04.3

You don't suppose they would allow the enemy to place their piece there, do you?

1:08.7

Bang went the loud report and down went the battalion and directly over our heads whistled

1:13.6

the terrible engine of death.

1:16.2

Fortiscue arose out of the dust, his face pale and fixed with an anxious look.

1:21.8

We had a battery on the right, one on the left and one on the hill in the rear and all

1:26.2

three opened on the bold and daring enemy who returned the fire with great spirit and skill.

1:32.9

Every gun was exceedingly well managed and every shot and shell fell with great accuracy

1:37.8

almost in the midst of our crouching battalion.

...

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