Gaines, Myra Clark

(1805-1885), wife of Edmund P. Gaines, was for many years plaintiff in an extraordinary lawsuit to recover the estate of her father, Daniel Clark. Her claim included much valuable property in New Orleans, estimated at $35,000,000, Gaines’ Mills, or Chick a hominy, Va., June 27, 1862. In this engagement of the Civil War Porter, commanding 25,000 troops of McClellan’s army, was defeated by Lee with a Confederate force of 35,000. On the morning of June 27 Porter fell back to a range of low hills, and there repelled the Confederate attack until 5,000 more men were sent him by McClellan. Meantime Jackson had joined Lee with 18,500 more troops. A. P. Hill first attacked Porter’s position, and was. driven back with great lo after a two hours’ struggle. Then Jackson came up and joined the attack. Porter, having no intrenchments, was forced to give way before the superior numbers, He cro ed the Chick a hominy in rapid retreat, and burned the bridges behind him.