DK - The American Civil War

THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN

After the wounding of General Johnston at

Seven Pines on May 31, General Lee was

given command of forces that he renamed

as the Army of Northern Virginia.

LEE’S STRATEGY

Despite heavy casualties on both sides—more

than 4,000 Union and 5,500 Confederate troops

killed or wounded—Seven Pines was an

indecisive battle that left the Army of the

Potomac in a position threatening Richmond.

Lee’s first action on taking command was to

reinforce the earthwork fortifications

around the city—and many expected him to

adopt a defensive stance. Instead, Lee ordered

General Stonewall Jackson’s army to join him

from the Shenandoah Valley ❮❮ 110 –11 and

began planning an attack on the Union right

flank, which would initiate the Seven Days

Battles 118–19 ❯❯.

MCCLELLAN DISCONCERTED

Struck down by malaria, McClellan had been out

of action during the battle. Despite claiming a

victory, he was demoralized by the heavy

casualties his army had sustained, finding

many reasons to postpone his offensive

against Richmond. He was convinced, contrary to

reality, that he faced “overwhelming numbers.”

AFTER

Shenandoah Valley on May 25. The
Confederates, meanwhile, viewed their
situation with alarm, and the people of
Richmond were thrown into a state of
panic by the approach of a Union naval
squadron, including two ironclads, up the
James River on which the city stands.

Fight for the capital
Plans were made by the Confederates to
abandon Richmond, but on May 15, a
combination of shore batteries and
underwater obstacles blocked the passage
of the Union squadron at Drewry’s Bluff.
Despite this reprieve, Richmond’s defenses
could not be expected to hold out under
prolonged bombardment by Union siege
guns, which were now being brought up
to the front. Offensive action was
required to drive back McClellan’s army.
Union engineers had bridged the
Chickahominy, and two corps, made up
of about a third of McClellan’s 100,000
troops, had crossed the river. Johnston
planned to isolate and overwhelm these
corps while the rest of the Union army
stayed north of the river. It was not a bad
plan for an army with inferior numbers
taking on a stronger enemy, for in
principle the Confederates would gain
local superiority. Heavy rain on the eve of

their advance. Union soldiers were

driven back, but late in the afternoon

reinforcements began to arrive from the

other side of the swollen river across the

rickety Grapevine Bridge. Going forward

to watch the fighting, Johnston was

seriously wounded and carried from

the field, his command devolving briefly

to Gustavus Smith. The next day, the

battle resumed but, with Smith almost

paralyzed with anxiety, the Confederates

could make no further impact.

From the Union landings to Seven Pines
McClellan was held up for a month at Yorktown, then
made slow progress as Johnston withdrew toward
Richmond. Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines, after
which Lee took command of the Confederate forces.

“You may find those who will go faster than I,

Mr. President; but it is very doubtful if you will

find many who will go further.”

GENERAL GEORGE B. MCLELLAN, IN A LETTER TO LINCOLN AFTER HIS REMOVAL FROM COMMAND, NOVEMBER 1862

the battle—known as Fair Oaks or Seven

Pines—made the river a raging torrent.

But the execution of the Southern attack

on the morning of May 31 was chaotic.

Confused and contradictory orders

meant that units blocked one another in

JOHNSTON

McCLELLAN

KEYES

SUMNER

MAGRUDER

G.W.SMITH

PORTER

FRANKLIN

FRANKLIN

SUMNER

D.H.HILL

A.P.HILL

LONGSTREET

SUMNER

McCLELLAN

HamptonRoads

Pam

unk

ey (^) Ri
ver
Chic
kah
omin
y (^) River
Jam
es
York Riv e r
Jam
es (^) R
iver
Ra
pp
ah
ann
ock
(^) River
Chesapeake Bay
App
om
atto
x (^) River
Riv
er
Warwick
River
Richmond
Petersburg
Williamsburg
Yorktown
Hampton
West Point
Hanover
Mechanicsville
Fair
Oaks
Fort Monroe
Bermuda
Hundred
Harrison’s
Landing
Hanover
Court
House
White
House
② Apr 5:
Start of Siege
of Yorktown
⑤ May 7: Brief
skirmish as Franklin’s
men go ashore at
Eltham’s Landing
⑦ May 27: Porter defeats
small Confederate force at
Hanover Court House
⑧ May 31–Jun 1:
Battle of Seven Pines. In
Confederate counterattack
Johnston is wounded
① Mar 17:
Union army lands
at Fort Monroe
④ May 5: Battle
of Williamsburg
⑥ May 15: Union
attempt to sail up
James River to
Richmond thwarted
by batteries at
Drewry’s Bluff
KEY
Union forces May 31
Confederate forces
May 31
Confederate defensive
works
Union victory
Confederate victory
Inconclusive battle
N
0 km
0 miles 5 10
105
③ May 3–4:
Confederate forces
withdraw overnight