"In the summer of 1862, two great armies met outside of Richmond in a series of battles that would determine the course of the Civil War. The Union had time, men and materiel on its side, while the Confederates had mobility, esprit de corps and aggressive leadership. The largest, most important of these battles occurred at Gaines' Mill"-- Provided by publisher.

McFarland; Illustrated edition

Prologue: When the Yankees came -- Operation Chickahominy -- The tocsin sounds -- The general and the private view a battle -- They were all cut to pieces -- The retreat to Gaines' Mill -- Geography -- Porter's dispositions -- If we whip them before Richmond, we shall have peace -- I confess I did not know what hard times were until I was under Jackson -- A soldier feels no fear while fighting -- Then we got down to our knitting -- Column after column melts way like smoke -- A dense woods and an ugly marsh -- Fixed bayonets in the hands of resolute men -- There is hot work on that hill yonder -- The bullets whistled through the leaves like fun -- We had been pretty well pounded out that afternoon -- To the wall of death -- At the wall of death -- Beyond the wall of death -- Respite from the wall of death -- Return of the wall of death -- Conquest of the wall of death -- It was death to stay and cold steel was the next thing -- I have got my fill of fighting -- Afterword.