McClellan's
George McClellan
General Lee was forcing the Union army of General McClellan out of their lines threatening Richmond. The battles were very vicious, resulting in heavy casualties for both sides, the bloodiest day was at Malvern Hill.
marching against union troops in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.nova net ans
Because Richmond was the capitol of the Confederate States of America, where the Confederate leaders were all located. Only miles form Washington DC, capturing the confederate leadership would disrupt all elements of the confederates operations.
The union troops used the "anaconda plan" By General Winfield Scott. The anaconda plan said that it would blockade the Souths ports, keeping out any European trade and then it would capture the Mississippi river to divide the rebels further. As you can guess the union is slowly constricting the confederacy thus it is called the anaconda plan.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
George McClellan
The hesitation of Maj. Gen. George Brinton McClellan
The hesitation of Maj. Gen. George Brinton McClellan
On May 3, 1862, Confederate forces evacuate Yorktown before Union troops overwhelm them. They have delayed McClellan's advance to Richmond by one month. On May 4, Union troops enter the vacated town.
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Petersburg
To capture the city of Richmond the capital of the Confederacy.
The Union did not capture Richmond..
Because Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, and the seat of government.
General George B. McClellan fully expected to use the rivers surrounding the Peninsula to allow him to take perfect defensive positions. With that would come a siege on Richmond. He believed the Southern army would have no choice but end the siege by attacking the Union's strong defensive positions. Once the Rebels failed, he would counterattack and capture Richmond. This, he believed would end the war, so did President Lincoln.