Lee's greatest victories were the Seven Days Battles, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Cold Harbor but both of his campaigns to invade the North ended in failure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee The Seven Days began on June 25, 1862, with a Union attack in the minor Battle of Oak Grove, but McClellan quickly lost the initiative as Lee began a series of attacks at Beaver Dam Creek (Mechanicsville) on June 26, Gaines' Mill on June 27, the minor actions at Garnett's and Golding's Farm on June 27 and June 28, and the attack on the Union rear guard at Savage's Station on June 29. McClellan's Army of the Potomac continued its retreat toward the safety of Harrison's Landing on the James River. Lee's final opportunity to intercept the Union Army was at the Battle of Glendale on June 30, but poorly executed orders allowed his enemy to escape to a strong defensive position on Malvern Hill. At the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, Lee launched futile frontal assaults and suffered heavy casualties in the face of strong infantry and artillery defenses. The Seven Days ended with McClellan's army in relative safety next to the James River, having suffered almost 16,000 casualties during the retreat. Lee's army, which had been on the offensive during the Seven Days, lost over 20,000. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Days_Battles
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Cimone
4/11/2010 05:36:01 am
The Second Battle of Bull Run: The second battle of Bull Run (or Manassas) was fought on Aug. 29-30, 1862. the fighting on the first day being sometimes called the battle of GROVETON. On the morning after the battle at Groveton, Pope's army was greatly reduced. It had failed to prevent the unity of Lee's army, and prudence dictated its immediate flight across Bull Run, and even to the defenses of Washington. But Pope determined to resume the battle the next morning. He had received no reinforcements or supplies since the 26th, and had no positive assurance that any would be sent. He confidently expected rations and forage from McClellan at Alexandria (a short distance away), who was to supply them; and it was not until the morning of the 30th ( August, 1862) , when it was too late to retreat and perilous to stand still, that he received information that rations and forage would be sent as soon as he (Pope) should send a cavalry escort for the train— a thing impossible. He had no alternative but to fight. Both commanders had made dispositions for attack in the morning. Lee's movements gave Pope the impression that the Confederates were retreating, and he ordered McDowell to pursue with a large force, Porter's forces to advance and attack then, and Heintzelman and Reno, supported by Ricketts's division, were ordered to assail and turn the Confederate left. This movement, when attempted, revealed a state of affairs fearful to the National army. The latter, as their advance moved forward, were opened upon by a fierce fire of cannon, shot, shell, and bullets, and at the same moment a large number of Lee's troops were making a flank movement that might imperil the whole of Pope's army. A very severe battle soon occurred. Porter's corps, which had recoiled at the unexpected blow, was rallied, and performed specially good service; and Jackson's advanced line was steadily pushed back until five o'clock in the afternoon, when Longstreet turned the tide of battle by pouring a destructive artillery fire upon the Nationals. Line after line was swept away, and very soon the whole left was put to flight. Jackson advanced, and Longstreet pushed his heavy columns against Pope's centre, while the Confederate artillery was doing fearful execution. The left of the Nationals, though pushed back, was unbroken, and held the Warrenton pike, by which alone Pope's army might safely retreat. Pope had now no alternative but to fall back towards the defenses at Washington. At eight o'clock in the evening he gave orders to that effect. This movement was made during the night, across Bull Run, to the heights of Centreville, the brigades of Meade and Seymour covering the retreat. The night was very dark, and Lee did not pursue; and in the morning (Aug. 31) Bull Run again divided the two great armies. So ended the second battle of Bull Run. http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/second-battle-bull-run.htm
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Andrew Murphy
4/12/2010 03:14:14 am
Robert E. Lee was the Confederate General, and the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee then won a number of victories in the following months. In June of '62, Lee drove the Union army away from the Richmond area in the Seven Days' Battle. Lee then drove the northern army back into Washington D.C. after the second Battle of Bull Run. Antietam soon followed on September 17, 1862, where he won a costly battle with northern general McClellan. Soon after, Lee began his with drawl through Virginia, where again he won a costly battle on the Union at Fredericksburg in December. http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/netscape/people/lee.html
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Cimone
4/12/2010 04:45:11 am
Fredericksburg - South crossed right in front of Lee’s army; kept charging into gunfire Chancellorsville – South Lee split his army and sent Jackson around to attack; surprised Hooker, Jackson died after the battle
Notess(:
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Cimone
4/13/2010 02:42:04 am
In June 1862, Robert E. Lee attacked McClellan's Army. The two sides clashed for a week from June 25- July 1. This became known as the Seven Days' Battles. The number of casualties was horrific with about 16,000 for the Union and around 20,000 for te Confederacy. Although the Confederate Army had heavier losses, McClellan's army was forced to retreat. The Union's plan to captured Richmond, Virginia failed.
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Cimone
4/13/2010 02:52:13 am
In August, the Confederates won a second Victory at the hands of Lee. This was the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Union Troops withdrew to Washington. Within just a few months, Lee had ended the Union threat in Virgini and renewed the Confederate hopes of winning the war. After Confederate victories in the West, Lee's victories were welcome news for the South. In September 1862 Lee and his army invade Maryland. With this invasion Lee went against the Southern strategy by fighting offensively. Lee had several reasons for taking the war to the North.
1. He hoped a vistory in the North might force Lincoln into peace talks.
2. The invasion would give Virginia farmsrest from the war during the harvest season
3. The Confederates could plunder Northern farms for food.
4. Lee hoped that the invasion would show that the Confederacy could indeed win the war, which might convince European nations to side with the South.
