The Peninsula Campaign of 1862

Book excerpt: The second of three volumes. The Civil War's Peninsula Campaign (March through July 1862) was the first large-scale Union operation in Virginia to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond. The operation was organized and led by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, whose amphibious turning operation was initially successful in landing troops at the tip of the Virginia peninsula against the cautious Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. When Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines at the end of May outside Richmond, however, Gen. Robert E. Lee was elevated to command the Army of Northern Virginia. His subsequent major offensive to defeat The Army of the Potomac during the Seven Days' Battles turned the tide of the campaign and the entire momentum of the war in the Eastern Theater. Original well-researched and written essays by leading scholars in the field on a wide variety of fascinating topics. Contains original maps, photos, and illustrations.