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==== Lee's Strategy ====

General Lee had planned this attack to be the largest of the war. He amassed 57,000 troops; however, Jackson was late to arrive with his army, which included the Texas Brigade. As a result, Lee could not carry out his strategy of a full attack of the center and both flanks of the entrenched Yankees. By being late with his men, Jackson afforded General Porter the time needed to establish his supreme defensive position, thus denying Lee the opportunity to execute his plan.

Generals Hill and Longstreet were charging the Union line throughout June 27, 1862, but were unable to penetrate as the terrain was deadly for the offensive troops. To break Porter’s line, the Confederate soldiers were tasked with crossing an open plain of 700-800 yards below the hill on which Porter was entrenched. Following the open plain, the South soldiers were forced to wade through Boatswain’s Creek, which was a shallow stream approximately ten feet wide that was bordered by steep and unfriendly banks. All of this was to be attempted while Porter’s group of 25,000 troops, a cavalry battalion, and an artillery battery that consisted of eighteen guns, looked down on the advancing Confederates.<ref>Simpson, 114-15.</ref>Generals Longstreet and A.P. Hill attempted the advance throughout the day but were unable to attain ground any closer to the Union line than that of the banks of Boatswain’s Creek. On the morning of June 27, Hood’s Texas Brigade reached the Gaines’s Mill battlefield and was organized in a battle line.

Hood ordered the 4th infantry to be held in reserve. Simultaneously, the 1st and 5th Texas regiments attacked the center with the 18th Georgia directed toward the enemy’s right flank, and the South Carolina troops attacked the left. At this time, Hood’s Brigade, along with the brigade of General Evander Law, composed the small division commanded by General Whiting. Although he was the brigade leader, General Hood took command of his old regiment, the 4th Texas. In a letter to his wife, the brigade historian described the actions of Hood that led the regiment to their most acclaimed achievement: