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The Peninsula 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 CorwallisCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis ( December 31, 1738- October 5, 1805) was a British general and colonial governor. In America, he is most remembered for his role in the American Revolutionary War. He was the eldest son of Charles Cornwallis, 5 to George WashingtonGeorge Washington ( February 22, 1732— December 14, 1799), also called Father of his Country 1 was an American general and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War ( 1775 1783) and later the first President of the Unite) and defeated the Confederates in a skirmish at the Battle of YorktownThe Battle of Yorktown (1862 was a battle of the American Civil War that was part of the Union offensive called the Peninsular Campaign. It happened when several regiments under Union commander George McClellan troops met a regiment of the Confederate tro. 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 RoadsHampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. World's largest natural harbor The water area known as Hampton Roads is a channel through which the waters of the James R and occupied NorfolkNorfolk is a city in the U. state of Virginia in the United States of America. It is an independent city, and therefore part of no county. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 234,403. Norfolk is located on the Elizabeth River, on Ham.
As the Union Army drew towards the outer defenses of Richmond, the Union Army became divided by the Chicahominy River , weakening the ability to move troops back and forth along the front. The Battle of Fair Oaks took place on June 1June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. Events 193 Roman Emperor Marcus Didius is assassinated in his palace. 1485 Matthias of Hungary took Vienna in his conquest of Austria (from Frede, 1862, with both sides claiming victory. Only a small portion of the Union Army participated, and General McClellan chose to lay seige and await reinforcements he had requested of President Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln ( February 12, 1809 April 15, 1865) was the 16th ( 1861- 1865) President of the United States, and the first president from the Republican Party. The election of Lincoln, who staunchly opposed the expansion of slavery, polarized the nation. Confederate General Joseph E. JohnstonJoseph Eggleston Johnston ( February 3, 1807 March 21, 1891) was a military officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, whose effectiveness was undercut by tensions with President Jefferson Davis. Born in Farmville, Virginia, Johnston a was wounded during the Battle of Fair Oaks, and he was replaced by Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Lee used the pause in McClellan's advances to fortify the defenses of Richmond and extend them south to the James River at Chafin's Bluff. On the south side of the James River, defensive lines were built south to a point below Petersburg. The total length of the new defensive line was about 30 miles.
To buy time to complete the new defensive line and prepare for an offensive, Lee had the same relatively small number of troops move continously and make appearances at various portions of the line to fool McClellan into thinking that the forces defending Richmond were much larger than they really were. Mcclellan was also reportedly unnerved by Confederate J.E.B. Stuart's daring and famous calvary ride completely around the Union's large siege force.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched decisive counterattacks just east of Richmond in the Seven Days' Battles ( June 25 - July 1, 1862). The strength of 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.
