Battle of Eltham's Landing

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Battle of Eltham's Landing Barhamsville West Point Began: May 7, 1862 Ended: Same day Location: New Kent County Theater: Eastern Theater Campaign: Peninsula Campaign Outcome: Inconclusive Combatants Commanders William B. Franklin Brigadier General, USA Gustavius W. Smith Major General, CSA Strength 11,300 2 brigades Casualties 194 48

Franklin’s Union division landed at Eltham’s Landing and was attacked by two brigades of Smith’s command, reacting to the threat to the Confederate army’s trains on the Barhamsville Road. Franklin’s movement occurred while the Confederate army was withdrawing from the Williamsburg line. (NPS summary)

Eltham's Landing

The appearance of the large number of transports and gunboats carrying Franklin's men could hardly go unnoticed. Confederate cavalry scouts reported their presence to Johnston at Barhamville before the landings began. Johnston understood the potential threat posed by Franklin's men to the passage of his supply trains. He dispatched MG Gustavus Smith to "prevent the enemy from advancing" beyond the beach head until the all important wagons had cleared the area. Smith conducted a personal reconnaissance and determined they could approach the enemy position along two avenues of approach. BG W. H. C. Whiting's division was tasked with driving "the skirmishers from the dense woods and endeavor to get position in the open ground between the woods and the river." From this location it was hoped that artillery could be brought up to engage the Union ships in the river.

To accomplish this mission the Texas Brigade, of BG John Bell Hood, would move north up the Barhamville Road with the detached infantry of Hampton's Legion supported by the 19th Georgia on his right. In a seemingly odd weapons status decision Hood had his men moving to contact with unloaded rifles. Immediately upon entering the woods the Texans (1st, 4th, and 5th Texas) were engaged by the Union pickets and this decision nearly cost him his life. While arranging his men for the sweep through the trees a Union picket took aim at Hood. Fortunately one of his soldiers ( PVT John Deal of the 4th Texas) had disregarded the order to remain weapons clear and shot down the would be sniper. The rest of the Texans quickly loaded their weapons. Determined to drive the Federal line of BG John Newton's brigade back. The skirmishing became an open gunfight in the thickly forested area. Despite the "gallant and obstinate resistance" of the 31st New York and 32nd New York the Federal line was pushed back. In about two hours of heavy skirmishing Hood's men steadily advanced inflicting nearly 200 casualties on the Union defenders (the bulk suffered by the two NY regiments). In a comment that was echoed by other reports from these operations Newton would complain of "inhuman barbarities" being committed on "some of the wounded."

When the skirmishing reached the edge of the woods the Union line was reinforced and the drive forward was stopped. An effort was made to bring the Federal fleet under artillery fire but the range proved too great for the Confederate guns. The Confederates withdrew and the Union troops reoccupied their previous positions. They made no effort to move forward until they were reunited with McClellan's right wing on May 12th. The time spent in loading and transporting Franklin's men nullified any advantage that might have been gained by their move. Once again delay doomed the Federal strategy to a status of "too little, too late."