Texas
Mechanicsville, United States
<i>(front)</i> <center>Remembers the valor and devotion of<br> its soldiers who participated in the battle<br> of Gaines’ Mill, Virginia - June 27, 1862<br><br> Here, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee<br> continued his attacks against Union Maj.<br> Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the<br> Potomac which was attempting to capture<br> Richmond. From June 25 - July 1, Lee and<br> McClellan fought a series of engagements<br> known as the Seven Days Battles, this being<br> the 3rd in that series. On June 27,<br> McClellan’s V Corps under Brig. Gen. Fitz<br> John Porter held a strong defensive<br> position behind Boatswain’s Creek on<br> Turkey Hill. Lee ordered an all-out<br> Assault, perhaps the largest he ever<br> Achieved. Hoping to send nearly 60,000<br> men across a two-mile front. For over five<br> hours, Porter’s men repulsed Lee’s<br> attacks. Near sundown, Lee sent forward<br> Brig Gen. W.H.C. Whiting’s Division,<br> composed of Brig. Gen. John Bell Hood’s<br> Texas Brigade and Col. Evander Law’s<br> Brigade. On this ground, Hood personally<br> led the 4th Texas and spearheaded the<br> attack. They were closely supported by<br> the 18th Georgia. Hood’s bayonet assault<br> broke the Union line driving Porter’s<br> men from their breastworks on the high<br> ground. The other regiments of Hood’s<br> Brigade emerged from the woods, and Union<br> resistance collapsed. Porter’s Corps<br> retreated across the Chickahominy River,<br> giving Lee the first victory of his career as<br> a general. Unnerved by the defeat,<br> McClellan now focused on saving his army<br> as Lee continued his attacks through July 1.<br> The Texas units, together with the<br> Georgians and South Carolinians in the<br> brigade, had played decisive roles in<br> achieving McClellan’s defeat and saving<br> the Confederate capital from capture.<br><br> Erected by the State of Texas 2012</center> <i>(back)</i> <center><i>“The men who carried this position<br> were soldiers indeed!”</i><br><br> Maj. Gen. T.J. (Stonewall) Jackson<br> In tribute to the Texas Brigade<br> at Gaines’ Mill – June 27, 1862<br><br> Texas Brigade units engaged in<br> the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, Va.<br><br> <b><u>Brig. Gen. John Bell Hood’s Brigade</u></b><br><br> 1st Texas<br> Volunteer Infantry Regiment<br><br> 4th Texas<br> Volunteer Infantry Regiment<br><br> 5th Texas<br> Volunteer Infantry Regiment<br><br> 18th Georgia<br> Volunteer Infantry Regiment<br><br> Hampton’s Legion, South Carolina<br> 8 Infantry Companies<br><br> Texas units formed the major<br> portion of Hood’s Brigade, thus it<br> was commonly known as the Texas<br> Brigade, but the 18th Georgia,<br> Hampton’s Legion, and later<br> the 3rd Arkansas were integral<br> parts of the brigade.<br><br> Texas remembers and honors her<br> sons and those of her sister states<br> who fought with them.<br> They sleep the sleep of the brave.</center>