the seven days battles (june 25, 1862 – july 1, 1862) were a series of six major battles fought near richmond, virginia during the american civil war. union army. in early 1862, major general george b. mcclellan’s army of the potomac landed at hampton, virginia and began fighting its way up the virginia peninsula. by mid-may his army of over 100,000 soldiers were on the outskirts of richmond, virginia, the confederate capital. if mcclellan could capture richmond, it could end the war. the city was defended by the confederate army of northern virginia. the two armies had just fought the battle of seven pines in which the confederate general, joseph e. johnston, was wounded. jefferson davis appointed general robert e. lee as the new commander. lee's victory in the seven days battles proved to be among the most decisive battles of the peninsula campaign.