4K NYers died in Civil War's Seven Days Battles
Posted at: 06/25/2012 11:40 AM
| Updated at: 06/25/2012 12:24 PM
By: AP
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) - This week marks the 150th anniversary of the first in a series of Civil War battles during which New York regiments would suffer thousands of casualties.
According to historians at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, the first of the Seven Days Battles occurred on June 25, 1862 when New York's Excelsior Brigade spearheaded an attack against Confederate forces outside Richmond, Va.
The brigade, composed of four regiments from New York City and several upstate counties, fought troops recently placed under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee.
After the last battle was fought at Malvern Hill on July 1, the Union Army had suffered nearly 16,000 casualties, including some 4,000 from dozens of New York units.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
