5th Corps tries to hold off AP Hill's division.

In the month of June, 1862, the Army of the Potomac was entrenched outside Richmond and Robert E Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Gen Lee decided the best way to push McClellan away from Richmond was to sieze the initiative. He ordered Gen. JEB Stuart to reconnoitre the enemy's positions. Stuart reported that the 5th Corps, under the command of Gen. Porter, was on the extreme right of the Union line.

Gen. Lee decided to attack it. He also brought the Corps of Gen. Jackson from the valley.

The outcome of The Battle of Gaines's Mill was a tactical victory for the Union but an enormous strategic victory for the South. Gen. McClellan became convinced he was desperately outnumbered (where the reverse was true) and ordered the evacuation of the Peninsular. Thus the first real attempt to capture Richmond and end the civil war came to a close.

TIPS

The Battle of Gaines's Mill is a bit like the reverse of Antietam (except with more forces). For the Confederate player to win he must crush the Union troops. In order to do this attacking the Union's right with Jackson presents the best opportunity. However, don't do it with brigades alone. Make sure you bring up your batteries, concentrate on one Confederate brigade, shoot holes in it, and then attack it.

Also, moving around the Union's right flank will stretch your opponent thin. He must cover you. Then an opening in the line will appear somewhere.

Regards the trenches, these can be taken but be aware of the huge amount of artillery there. It works better to step to the right and attack over the crest line to the east of the trenches, and thus flank it. Sometimes AP Hill can take a horrible amount of casualties attacking the trenches directly.

Of course Longstreet attacking the Union's left helps this situation.

For the Union player, you have to keep a constant line of defence presented to the Confederate player. Instantly moving McCall's division to your extreme right is a good idea. Otherwise the Confederate player tends to waltz down your right flank.

The best defence is to form Supported Line and pull back onto Turkey Hill. Keeping your units in Battle Line can mean there is not enough room for them to deploy, and they will keep tripping over each other. Plus only one rank is not deep enough to hold off any charges.

This, of course, means giving up the trenches at an appropriate time. It is far better to withdraw from them than be slaughtered there, because eventually the Confederates will get around your flanks. As to when to pull out, that is the tricky part.

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