Union General McClellan and his 
army were heading for Richmond, 
Virginia, in May 1862.  Knowing 
this was a risky move, McClellan
divided his forces, deploying 
two of his corps south of the 
Chickahominy River and three to 
the north.  In a stroke of luck 
for the Confederates, a storm 
deluged the area and effectively 
cut off the two southern 
segments of the Union Army.

Seizing the initiative, 
Confederate General Johnston 
ordered a three pronged attack 
against McClellan's two isolated
corps.  Slogging their way 
through muddy terrain, the
Confederate forces managed to 
push the Union troops back to 
Fair Oaks.  Additional Southern 
brigades under the command of 
General Longstreet arrived late 
in the day - at the same time 
elements of the Union II Corps 
arrived.  The day ended in a 
draw, but one Confederate 
casualty was General Johnston.

The following day the 
Confederate Army began the first
assault.  Longstreet, fearing a 
Union counterattack, attacked 
only half-heartedly, and was 
easily stopped.  The bulk of the 
Confederate army was now under 
the command of General Robert E.
Lee, who withdrew the army to 
their original position due to 
Longstreet's inaction.  

McClellan and the Union Army, 
which could have been crushed, 
was spared.   The Confederates, 
in spite of their ineffectual 
fighting, won at Fair Oaks.  
The confidence Lee came to 
inspire throughout the 
Confederacy was established 
in this battle.   The wounded 
Johnston summed up the 
importance: "the shot that 
struck me down is the very best 
that has been fired for the 
Southern cause yet, for I 
possess in no degree the 
confidence of our government - 
and now they have in my place 
one who does possess it."