On June 26, 1862, Robert E. Lee launched what became known as the Seven Days' Battles to drive Maj. Gen. George McClellan's Army of the Potomac army away from the Confederate capital at Richmond. After driving the Union army from Mechanicsville, the two sides clashed at the Glendale crossroads four days later. Lee hoped to cut McClellan off from his base at Harrison's Landing. Poorly coordinated attacks, however, cost Lee an opportunity and the Federals withdrew to Malvern Hill that night.