"The Ground Began to Tremble Like an Earthquake" Help Save Gaines' Mill-Cold Harbor

[@MatthewChenault]

On a more serious note, any land preserved at Seven Pines would be nice to turn into a memorial park and have an exhibit talking about the men who fought at Seven Pines.

[@TyAndras]

100%

[@ronniedurie7752]

I will be calling Americian Battlefield Trust today to donate the preserving of Seven Pines /Fair Oaks battle field! My Gr-Gr-Grandpa was wounded there! He was with the 7th New Jersey Volunteers and survived. He was also Wounded at the Battle at Williamsburg and survived! He saw and fought in some hard battles and was in the Peach Orchard fighting also in Gettysburg. But I will donate today in his Honor because this land NEEDS to be preserved!!! Give it to them Jersey Blues!!!

[@tberkoff]

Bobby's description of the fight is excellent. This is such important ground that saw combat in 1862 and again in 1864. Thank you ABT!!

[@garneroutlaw1]

Bobby is awesome.

[@jackson4404]

I'll say! He's not only an expert but passionate about this battle which I know of as Cold Harbor from Grant's account of it.

[@JimShira-pj3iv]

My 3rd Great-Grandfather was in the 11th PA Reserves and captured that day. Ironically, another ancestor fighting for the south played a major role in the final victorious charge…his name is John Bell Hood

[@swlc5555]

Gen. Hood had previously been colonel of the 4th Texas Infantry. Val Giles of that regiment gave an interesting account of Gen. Hood at Gaines' Mill: "...Gen. Hood galloped up, and dismounting from his horse, walked rapidly to the front of the regiment, about faced, and in a clear, ringing voice said: 'Soldiers, I have come to fulfill a promise I made you when colonel of your regiment. I promised to personally lead you in the first great battle. The time has come, and I am here.' Raising his sword in front of him, holding the hilt in his right hand and the point in his left, he gave the command 'Forward, guide right!' He never said 'march,' for the regiment anticipated him and was in motion by the time the word forward was out of his mouth. He went down the hill backwards, with his back to the enemy, holding his sword out at arm's length, dressing the line as it advanced. If I had a picture of that moment, as I saw it then and remember it now, money could not buy it.

[@jackson4404]

Hood was insanely brave & aggressive, a terrifyingly opponent.

[@jeffbrewer8810]

I used to live in Williamsburg and spent a lot of time on the outskirts of Richmond. Chiefly at Malvern Hill off Route 5 as my wife’s III GG was killed there in ‘62. There is so much history on that outer belt east of Richmond.

[@jackson4404]

Grant said of the Confederate soldiers that they were the bravest of soldiers fighting for one of the worst of causes.

[@jeffbrewer8810]

@@jackson4404 I wander what, in Grant’s mind, would have been the cause for which the bravest of soldiers fought. The Lincoln Administration was certainly malleable on what their cause was for some time after hostilities commenced. Just a thought.

[@orome_best_valar8305]

Glad to hear a little part of the Seven Pines battlefield is being preserved. I went to Seven Pines elementary as a child and a glass case in the school office collected the bullets the kids found throughout the year. It would fill up and started again the next year.

[@Fourrings80]

Woah Gary without a hat OR glasses. Great stuff as always.

[@ulrikebaumann5534]

So happy about the Seven Pines/Fair Oaks preservation at the Adams property!!

[@Gitarzan66]

A most amazing story. Thanks you.

[@Captainkebbles1392]

that's insane i was JUST THERE TODAY

[@mike6764]

Thanks!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thank you Mike!

[@lawrencemyers3623]

Thanks for posting as my knowledge of the Peninsula/Seven Days Campaign is at best, sketchy. Am also happy to have renewed my ABT membership a couple of weeks ago. I'm grateful for all that you folks do to preserve this tragic, but epic chapter in our history.

[@HistoricWrath]

Fantastic opportunities!!!

[@bottomlesspit7]

Shared it on the Twitter! Already donated!

[@fateagle4life]

I wonder how many brothers had land that was faught on during the civil war at different locations in 2 different battles? I can't think of any?

[@TyAndras]

We Need to save around seven pines!! My ggrandpa was shot in the 5th New Jersey company C. Under Col. Starr, Hookers Div, under Heinzelman! He was left behind June 29th at the time of the “change of base.” I’ve been researching his time in the union for the last 10 years and have tracked him all the way from Washington and in the Army of the Potomac in the peninsula campaign!

[@terryeustice5399]

Thanks Gary for bringing this to our attention! ❤️💯👍

[@History_dude1989]

On that drone shot at 8:05 it appears that a large number of trees have been/ are getting cut down. Where is that location compared to the ground being saved ? And why is it occuring? Please tell me it isnt for a subdivision.

[@jima3345]

Congrats on opportunity to acquire the Seven Pines Property. I have a rather long-winded story to share regarding the Battle of Seven Pines which seems to also be known as the Battle of Fair Oaks. Back in the late 1960's I was shown letters written by a Union soldier, David Bell (all first names made-up) to his parents in the town of Brockwayville, PA., present day Brockway. There may have been around a dozen all addressed to a Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bell with the exception of one addressed solely to Mr. Samuel Bell. In the letter to Mr. Bell, this Union soldier told his father how his unit was marching in a column when they were ambushed by the Confederates, and he was hit in the chest knocking him to the ground. While lying on the ground he was hit again in the shoulder. He lay on the ground until night fell when he crawled toward some lights which turned out to be a "rebel" (his term) camp. According to his writing a rebel officer "took pity on him" (his words), had him draped over a horse and he was taken to a nearby field hospital, where I think it's safe to assume he wrote the letter from. Among the letters was a clipping out of a newspaper dated 1898 which was an obituary for a James Bell who was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bell and a brother David Bell who died at the Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia in 1862.

[@jima3345]

It having been well over fity years since my having had access to the letters from David Bell, there's much I can't recall. There was a regimental history among them - I really wish I could remember the regiments name, likewise the first names of the all persons metioned From the remaining letters addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bell prior to the battle, I get the impression that his unit was stationed (bivouacked) near Alexandria, VA. He told of seeing the hot air balloons used for observation of the enemy. He also told of the commanding officer of his unit having been drummed out of the unit for having contracted a "social disease" from visiting a house of "ill repute" in Alexandria.

[@jackson4404]

This is good story if a sad one. Thank you for sharing it. I cannot fathom the bravery of men who fought battle after battle, got wounded & pieced back together then returned to the field.

[@matthewchiz8488]

Almost didn't recognize gary without his hat on.

[@MatthewChenault]

*Insert me secretly buying the Seven Pines land just so I can build a John Sedgwick shrine here.*

[@bigsarge2085]

✌️✌️

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

Seven pines will lead to the battle of seven days campaign, jej is out then in comes gen Robert Lee at Gaines Mill confederate rebel victory?!

[@williammurray8060]

Donate to your church and American battlefield trust ❤