'battle's carnage'
Apparently many Richmond civilians witnessed the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). They returned to the Confederate capital with a “thousand extravagant stories”. Many wounded soldiers were brought to the city.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 2, 1862:
The Scenes in Richmond — the wounded.
–On yesterday and the ever before our city presented one of those grand spectacles which it is not often the province of man to witness. Richmond, environed by a hostile foe, whose thunder of artillery belched death amid our ranks, sweeping like “chaff before the wind.” our fathers, friends, brothers, husbands — yet there was no yielding heart, no quivering life, no drooping eye, even amid the thousand extravagant stories told by returning civilians, whose eyes are unaccustomed to the sight of battle’s carnage; but every face wore that expression of intense anxiety which betokened an iron determination to resist the ruthless tyrant’s march, even till the last life shall be sacrificed upon the altar of our country’s liberty.
Burying Ground
During the day, large numbers of gallant wounded were brought in and assigned to the various hospitals, and with mingled pride and pleasure we witnessed the kind attention shown them by our citizens — some dressing wounds, some feeding the hungry, some with soothing cordials cooling parched lips, whilst ever present were those angel female forms, who, with saddened hearts but cheerful words, administered those little delicacies which revived in the soldier’s breast that hopeful remembrance of their homes, in whose defence they have nobly fought and fallen. We would earnestly ask every mother and sister of Richmond to contribute their aid in alleviating the distress of our wounded, by contributions of cordials bandages, cooked provisions. coffee, tea, lint. &c., which can be sent to Messrs. Meade to Baker’s, or to the receiving hospital, at Seabrooks Warehouse where they will be much needed. We know the appeal will not be in vain but let no one wail [wait?] for her neighbor.
After the battle the Yankees had to bury the dead and burn the horses:
Yankees dealing with the battle's aftermath
The following map by Hal Jespersen (and licensed by Creative Commons) shows the Union army divided by the Chickahominy. This gave the Confederates their opportunity to attack the Union corps on the Richmond side of the river.
Union army astride the Chickahominy
