Between June 25 and July 1, 1862, George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia battled on the outskirts of Richmond. The fate of the capital of the Confederacy lay in the balance. A decisive Union victory could have resulted in the capture of Richmond—and likely the end of the rebellion. But Lee's outnumbered Rebels outperformed their opponents during the week-long series of engagements—known to history as the Seven Days Battles—driving Union forces away from Richond. Below are images that help tell the story of the fateful week of fighting.











