Contrasts in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks, May 31 - June 1, 1862

Surprisingly little has been written about the important Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks. The bloody two-day affair (May 31-June 1, 1862), fought on the doorstep of the Confederate capital, was the first major battle in the Eastern Theater since Bull Run/Manassas the previous summer. It left more than 11,000 casualties in its wake and the primary Southern army without its commander. The possession of Richmond hung in the balance. Victor Vignola's A Mismanaged Affair: The Battle of Seven Pines / Fair Oaks, May 31-June 1, 1862 rectifies this gap in the literature. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan marched his Army of the Potomac up the Virginia Peninsula during the spring weeks of 1862 before committing a near-fatal error by placing his inexperienced IV Corps at the tip of the spear south of the flood-prone Chickahominy River. Opposing McClellan at the head of the Virginia army was Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, who had fallen back without offering much in the way of opposition. When the opportunity to strike beckoned, Johnston crafted an overly complex attack plan to crush the exposed IV Corps. A series of bungled Confederate marches, piecemeal assaults, and a lack of assertive leadership doomed the Southern plan. One of the wounded late in the day on May 31 was Gen. Johnston, whose injury led to the appointment of Gen. Robert E. Lee to take his place - a decision that changed the course of the entire Civil War. Author Vignola based his study on a host of primary and archival sources, many of which have never been published. The result is a well-illustrated and mapped readable tactical and leadership account that will please the most discriminating reader. Sandwiched between Shiloh and The Seven Days' Battles, the combat at Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) has been mostly forgotten or overlooked. Although tactically inconclusive, the ramifications were far-reaching in ways no one could have foreseen. And like Shiloh, Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) provided a clear warning that the war would be long and bloody. AUTHOR: Victor Vignola is a lifelong student of the Civil War and has written articles for publication in North and South Magazine and other forums. Victor delivers historical programs, conducts tours, and regularly visits various Civil War sites. Vic's career included executive-level labor and interagency relations for the Office of Mental Health in New York State. He lives with his family in Orange County, New York, home of the 124th New York "Orange Blossoms" Regiment. 21 images, 15 maps

About the Author :
Victor Vignola is a lifelong student of the Civil War and has written articles for publication in North and South Magazine and in other forums. He delivers historical programs, conducts tours, and regularly visits various Civil War sites. Vic’s career included executive level labor and inter-agency relations for the Office of Mental Health in New York State. He lives with his family in Orange County, New York, home of the 124th New York “Orange Blossoms” Regiment.

Review :
"...a masterful tactical study of the battle, down to the regimental level. I highly recommend this book; it should be on the bookshelf of every Civil War buff."-- "Civil War News" "Vignola's thorough research, knowledge of the terrain, and enthusiasm for the subject, help bring the battle to life."-- "The NYMAS Review" "...one of the largest and most significant voids in our pre-Seven Days understanding of the campaign has now been finally addressed in strongly satisfactory fashion by Victor Vignola in his impressive debut."-- "Civil War Books and Authors" "The author's new and important study concentrates on the Fair Oaks part of the battle. His research is thorough, he has walked the ground, and his narrative brings the battle to life."--Doug Crenshaw, co-author of To Hell or Richmond and author of Richmond Shall Not Be Given Up "Civil War aficionados and students of military history will find much to like in Vignola's work...Vignola's concise writing gives even novices the ability to walk away with a firm understanding of the engagement's importance. It is difficult to appease both well-informed readers and beginners, but Vignola successfully strikes this balance. The work is substantive in its evaluation of the military leadership while also providing an gripping narrative of the challenges of battle. In sum, Contrasts in Command is highly recommended for those who wish to understand a critical but often overlooked juncture in the Civil War."-- "H-Net Reviews" "The Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks set up the seismic clash outside Richmond between the armies of George B. McClellan and Robert E. Lee in the late spring of 1862. This welcome study provides by far the most detailed treatment to date of the two-day battle, with a focus on leadership and the tactical ebb and flow at the Fair Oaks sector of the field. Students of the Eastern Theater, and of the military history of the Civil War more generally, will turn to this study with profit."--Gary W. Gallagher, author of The Enduring Civil War "The fighting on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in front of Richmond often is mentioned only in the context of Joe Johnston's wounding. In reality, it was a dramatic story on both sides, with ramifications lasting well after the battle's end. Contrasts in Command brings those important stories out of the shadows and illuminates a neglected part of the war in Virginia."--Christopher L. Kolakowski, author of The Virginia Campaigns, March-August 1862 "Victor Vignola's Contrasts in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks is an engaging and thoroughly researched examination of a critical Civil War engagement that until recently received scant attention. Accompanied by an impressive array of battlefield maps, Vignola's vivid narrative is a highly readable volume bristling with insights. I highly recommend it."--Gordon C. Rhea, author of The Battles for Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, May 7-12, 1864 and To The North Anna River: Grant and Lee, May 13-25, 1864