Peninsular Campaign
The Peninsular Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union offensive operation launched in southern Virginia in March through July of 1862. The operation, commanded by General George McClellan, was a roundabout amphibious attempt to capture Richmond by circumventing the Confederate Army in northern Virginia. The operation began with the conveyance of Union Army troops down the Potomac River and south through Chesapeake Bay to land at Fort Monroe on the tip of the Virginia Peninsula. After landing the forces were to advance along the narrow strip of land between the James and York rivers.
The first part of the plan was successful. After landing, the Union forces advanced to Yorktown (site of the 1781 surrender of Lord Corwallis to George Washington) and defeated the Confederates in a skirmish at the Battle of Yorktown. Although the progress was slow, the Union forces did advance to within several miles of Richmond. During the campaign, the Union Army also seized Hampton Roads and occupied Norfolk.
As the Union Army drew towards Richmond, Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched decisive counterattacks just east of Richmond in the Seven Days' Battles. The stregth of the Lee's defenses forced McClellan to pull back his forces to a base on the James River. Lincoln later ordered the army to return to the Washington, D.C. area to support General John Pope's army in the Second Bull Run campaign.
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