Advance onRichmond, Virginia

Advance onRichmond, Virginia

March 1862-September 1862

March 1862-September 1862

The Union began thePeninsular CampaignThe Union began thePeninsular Campaign

Union General George B McClellan planned to attack the Confederate capital of Richmond from the east, across the Virginia Peninsula

Union General George B McClellan planned to attack the Confederate capital of Richmond from the east, across the Virginia Peninsula

President Lincoln wanted an offensive that would attack from

Washington DC

President Lincoln wanted an offensive that would attack from

Washington DC Union General McClellan thought that they had an

advantage going in from the coast, that resistance would be weak

Union General McClellan thought that they had an advantage going in from the coast, that resistance would be weak

McClellan started to assemble an army at Ft Monroe, a Union-held

fort on the peninsula

McClellan started to assemble an army at Ft Monroe, a Union-held

fort on the peninsula

Confederate General Magruder was crafty

Confederate General Magruder was crafty

He quickly built up defensive lines

He succeeded in fooling the Union army into thinking he had many more men then the 13,000 he actually commanded

He quickly built up defensive lines

He succeeded in fooling the Union army into thinking he had many more men then the 13,000 he actually commanded

Siege at YorktownSiege at Yorktown

McClellan delayed marching toward Richmond

Lincoln urged him on through telegram

The confederate army was increasing reinforcements under Johnston

McClellan delayed marching toward Richmond

Lincoln urged him on through telegram

The confederate army was increasing reinforcements under Johnston

Battle at Fair OaksMay 1862

Battle at Fair OaksMay 1862

Mclellan decided to split his army

Confederate General Johnston attacked with 75,000 troops

They battled for days with no winner

Confederates chose a new General: Robert E Lee

Mclellan decided to split his army

Confederate General Johnston attacked with 75,000 troops

They battled for days with no winner

Confederates chose a new General: Robert E Lee

Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee Most respected of all

Confederate generals On June 1 he took

command of the Army of Northern Virginia

Union forces were 10 miles from Richmond

Most respected of all Confederate generals

On June 1 he took command of the Army of Northern Virginia

Union forces were 10 miles from Richmond

The Seven Days’ CampaignThe Seven Days’ Campaign

Lee strengthened the city and planned to attack He ordered Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson bring his army up from

the south The two armies clashed in a small town called Mechanicsville in

the first of five battles Each battle saw the Union army retreat a little more

Lee strengthened the city and planned to attack He ordered Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson bring his army up from

the south The two armies clashed in a small town called Mechanicsville in

the first of five battles Each battle saw the Union army retreat a little more

Union forces were pushed backUnion forces were pushed back

The Union had to abandon the plan of taking Richmond, the priority was to save the army

Lee pursued the enemy but was unable to deliver a decisive blow because of poor weather and exhausted troops

The Union had to abandon the plan of taking Richmond, the priority was to save the army

Lee pursued the enemy but was unable to deliver a decisive blow because of poor weather and exhausted troops

Lee’s army saves RichmondLee’s army saves Richmond

In only one week he had lost a quarter of his army McClellan had missed his chance to take Richmond The Union army wouldn’t get that close again to the

capital again for another two years

In only one week he had lost a quarter of his army McClellan had missed his chance to take Richmond The Union army wouldn’t get that close again to the

capital again for another two years

Second Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)

Second Battle of Bull Run(Manassas)

Union forces attacked Confederate soldiers on August 29th Robert E Lee’s army held their ground and continued their

success It was a complete victory for the south

Union forces attacked Confederate soldiers on August 29th Robert E Lee’s army held their ground and continued their

success It was a complete victory for the south

Lee starts his invasion of the northLee starts his invasion of the north

Lee felt he could take the initiative: he would invade the north and win another decisive victory there

For the first time in the Civil War the south would be the aggressive force

Lee felt he could take the initiative: he would invade the north and win another decisive victory there

For the first time in the Civil War the south would be the aggressive force