White Oak Swamp

Stonewall seemed to go through the Seven Days Campaign a day late and a dollar short. While the rest of the Army of Virginia was fighting it out at Glendale Station, Jackson got hung up building a bridge and trying to cross a creek. The whole campaign was like that, at Gains Mill Jackson didn’t show up at all. Some Confederate commanders complained that had he been there they would have over run Porter on the first try. Later at Malvern Hill he wouldn’t get into the battle until late and then only reluctantly.

The battle at White Oak Swamp was never meant to be a deceive action by either side. The Union was covering the retreat of it wagons and wanted to hold off Jackson until they got way, Jackson wanted to cross White Oak Creek and get into the battle at Glendale. The wagons got away and Jackson missed the fight at Glendale, so I’m calling one this a Union victory.

I recently read an interesting theory that Jackson was suffering from extreme fatigue. Jackson had led a campaign to drive the Union from the Shenandoah Valley that had involved a great deal of marching and counter marching. Jackson had then marched his men to join Lee in his attack on McClellan with Jackson riding on ahead of his soldiers to meet with Lee and riding back. He didn’t get any sleep for at least three days before the first battle and didn't get any during the Seven Days, either. This would explain why Jackson couldn’t seem to get it together and was reported by various sources as kind of just wandering around in a daze.

Here Stonewall Jackson's troops were held up and prevented from joining the rest of Lee's forces at the Battle of Glendale.

It's a swamp all right. Not a place to fight.

Jackson placed his artillery up Portugee Road.

This and following pictures are view of White Oak Swamp Creek.

Next: Malvern Hill