During the Seven Days’ Battle McClellan’s men had departed from the entrenchments around Richmond and thinking his troops were outnumbered, retreated to the north bank of the James River. The retreat came as a surprise to Lee because in fact, the Union had outnumbered the Confederates in the area of Richmond by over two to one. By early July, the opportunity to take the southern capital was over and so was the Seven Days’ Campaign. The human toll was great: 35,000 casualties from both sides combined. However, Richmond was safe.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN