Command Decisions at Fair Oaks

In this fresh look at the opening round of the two-day Battle of Fair Oaks (also known as Seven Pines), author Vignola opens by arguing that most past treatments on the fight were based chiefly on Union reports, newspaper accounts, soldiers’ letters and memoirs, and regimental histories.

Advancing up the Virginia Peninsula in the Spring of 1862, general George McClellan’s Union Army of the Potomac had reached within a dozen miles of Richmond. His Confederate opponent, Joseph E. Johnston, who had hitherto only lightly opposed the Union advance, chose to undertake a major counter attack in late May, seeing an opportunity to strike two of McClellan’s army corps that were separated from the main body of his army.

Vignola offers a good discussion of Johnston’s decision making before attacking on May 31st. The assault initially went well. But Johnston was wounded that evening, which caused a loss of command control, several of his officers performed poorly, while some Union ones did well, and the battle ended in a draw on June 1^st.

In his analysis of the outcome, Vignola argues that battle would have resulted in a Confederate victory had Johnston not been wounded, a point made by Robert Krick in his forward to the book. The loss, however, had a silver lining in that Johnston was replaced two days later by Robert E. Lee, who would prove a more aggressive general to command what became the Army of Northern Virginia.

Vignola’s thorough research, knowledge of the terrain, and enthusiasm for the subject, help bring the battle to life. We not only get the ‘Big Picture” of generals leading corps and divisions in the fighting, but also see lesser officers in action at the regimental level, making life and death decisions.

While Vignola might offer rather more coverage of the Union side, he does cover it reasonably well, and in fact argues that Union commanders general outperformed their rivals, praising only D.H. Hill, while commending the Union’s Edwin V. Sumner, and Darius Couch.

Vignola’s conclusions also note that the weather played a significant factor in the battle, helping turn it into a lost opportunity for the South.

This reviewer highly recommends Contrasts in Command for anyone who has an interest in the Civil War, and particularly in the protracted duel between the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac.

Note: Contrasts in Command is also available in e-editions.

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