2. The Union began the
Peninsular Campaign
Union General George B McClellan planned to
attack the Confederate capital of Richmond from
the east, across the Virginia Peninsula
3. 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
4. McClellan started to assemble an
army at Ft Monroe, a Union-held
fort on the peninsula
5. 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
6. Siege at Yorktown
McClellan delayed
marching toward
Richmond
Lincoln urged him on
through telegram
The confederate army
was increasing
reinforcements under
Johnston
7. Battle at Fair Oaks
May 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
8. Robert 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
9. The 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
10. Union 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
11. Lee’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
12. 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
13. Lee 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