North Jersey Civil War Round Table Presents Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks: Disaster Avoided or Lost Opportunity?

NORTH JERSEY CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks: Disaster Avoided or Lost Opportunity?

Presented by VICTOR VIGNOLA

For most students of the Civil War, the only factor they can recall of the May 31, 1862, Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks, is that the battle resulted in Confederate General Robert E. Lee rising into command of Confederate armies in the east. What many fail to realize is just how close the Confederacy came to complete victory and how the battle became a near disaster for Union General George B. McClellan. Be it a disaster avoided or a lost opportunity, the fact remains the Battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks remains one of the most mis-understood battles of the American Civil War.

Author/historian Victor Vignola’s lively presentation explores the topic in detail. His first book Contrasts in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks – May 31 – June 1, 1862, has received high praise. So stunning is the success of Contrasts in Command, it has earned recognition as receiving the coveted 2023 Fletcher Pratt Award. In addition, the American Battlefield Trust also recognized Contrasts as a Finalist for the 2023 Best Military History Book, while Civil War Books and Authors, an independent review journal of Civil War historiography, included Contrasts in their list of Top 10 Books for 2023.
Author Vignola’s research while developing Contrasts directly led to preserving a twelve-acre parcel of hallowed ground where the Fair Oaks fighting occurred. That parcel remains the only preserved ground for the entire Seven Pines/Fair Oaks battlefield. His work continues as he is completing a book on the Battle of Seven Pines.

This program is presented as a public service by  the North Jersey Civil War Round Table.