The Union's objective in the Peninsular Campaign was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond and end the war. General McClellan had convinced President Lincoln that the plan Lincoln favored would take too long. Using the York and James River peninsula would be a shorter march to Richmond.
Unfortunately, for the Union it was a failure. However looking at it from the Confederate point of view, the repulse of the Union army saved Richmond and at the same time brought in Confederate General Robert E. Lee to defend Virginia and Richmond.
Union General Innis Newton Palmer graduated from West Point in 1846. He was ranked 38th among the graduating class of cadets that numbered 59. Palmer saw duty at the First Battle of Bull Run and during the Peninsula campaign. He was in the same class of George B. McClellan, under whom he served in the Peninsula campaign.
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was in its early stages, General McClellan was certain that President Lincoln was hampering McClellan's war operations. Lincoln had stepped in and retained the corps under General McDowell to defend Washington DC. Lincoln believed this was a necessity.
On July 1, 1862, the Battle of Malvern Hill was fought in the Peninsula campaign. Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee suffered a serious defeat against entrench Union troops. Union commanders under General McClellan urge a counterattack, however McClellan believes he needs to retreat rather than lose more troops.
The Potomac River
He was called Little Mac and the Young Napoleon. Part of the reason for this was that McClellan was a student of the Napoleonic wars, and that his intellect was high as was Napoleon's. He was called Little Mac and the Young Napoleon by the Union side in the war. He was known in the south as "The Virginia Creeper" after his performance during the Peninsula Campaign.
union leader who led the peninsula campaign?
During the Peninsula campaign and after other major battles in Virginia, Union generals were very well treated. They were placed on parole and allowed to walk the streets of Richmond unguarded. This was not the case for rank and file Union prisoners who were held at Libby prison.
During the Peninsula campaign the fighting for Richmond began at Fair Oaks. General Johnston was wounded during his attack on Union forces and was replaced by General Robert E. Lee.
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Gen. George McClellan
Union General George B. McClellan had plans for General Totten in the 1862 Peninsula campaign. Late in March of 1862, McClellan had requested that General Totten be made available to build fortifications on the peninsula leading to Richmond. He was an experienced engineer. McClellan understood that the experience of the Army's chief engineer, Totten would be invaluable in this campaign.
In Virginia. It started from the landing of Union Army at Fort Monroe.
The two objectives of Confederate General Robert E. Lee during the Union's Peninsula campaign was to protect Richmond, and destroy the retreating forces of Union General George B. McClellan. The former goal was completed, the goal of destroying McClellan's army was not reached. The Union forces had a good rear guard unit and Lee's was unable to launch coordinated attacks on McClellan's army as it retreated and held firm at Harrison's Landing.
The new strategy was based on total war on the Confederacy.
Union General Innis Newton Palmer graduated from West Point in 1846. He was ranked 38th among the graduating class of cadets that numbered 59. Palmer saw duty at the First Battle of Bull Run and during the Peninsula campaign. He was in the same class of George B. McClellan, under whom he served in the Peninsula campaign.
Lee's men failed to retaliate after the Union attacks during the Wilderness Campaign due to exhaustion.
Based on early 1862 victories in the West and the prospect of McClellan's preliminary success in the Peninsula Campaign, Secretary Stanton was sure the war was almost over. He issued orders to close recruitment offices to close in order to save money. His optimism was premature.