Roundtable: Retreat From Victory

The Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862, marked the climax of the Seven Days’ Battles around Richmond, Virginia. For the first time since the Civil War began, the full might of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s Union Army of the Potomac and Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia met. The world watched and wondered as this high-stakes combat played out on the doorstep of the Confederate capital. McClellan’s army emerged victorious with its superior positions and overwhelming artillery firepower. Yet, McClellan retreated from victory to establish a safe base on the James River. Lee’s army secured a default victory simply by holding the battlefield and saving Richmond from capture.

Francis Augustin O'Reilly has written numerous articles on the Civil War and continues to conduct extensive battlefield studies and tours throughout Virginia. He also is the author of Stonewall Jackson at Fredericksburg: The Battle of Prospect Hill. O'Reilly is a historian and park ranger at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.

The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.