University of Virginia Library

OPERATIONS ON THE PENINSULA.

After the evacuation of Manassas by the Confederates, they took
position near Yorktown on the peninsula, and erected the strongest
fortifications yet built in the New World. The early part of April saw

the Federal army, 100,000 strong, anchored off Fortress Monroe, and
McClellan found that the fortifications extended entirely across the
peninsula, from the York to the James river, and he at once concluded
that one of two things was certain; here the Confederates could be
cooped up on the peninsula, and be compelled to surrender, or they
must evacuate the stronghold, and take refuge behind their batteries at
Richmond. The forces were landed, and after an examination of the
works, McClellan was confident that with his artillery—a thousand
pieces—he should be able to level these works. He had seen the telling
effects of artillery upon similar ones at Sebastopol during the Crimean
war. General Robert E. Lee, of Virginia, the ablest leader of the
Southern armies, knew the same, and at once recommended to the
government the evacuation of the peninsula. Accordingly on the 3d
of May the whole Confederate army, numbering 70,000 men, marched
out on the road to Richmond, and left these works, as they had left
those of Manassas, in possession of their enemies. A rapid pursuit was
at once begun, and, on the 4th, General Stoneman's command came up
with the rear of the retreating army at Williamsburg, about fifty-eight
miles from Richmond. Here the Confederates made a stand, and, with
the pertinacity of veterans, disputed the Federal advance. It was the
5th of May, at seven o'clock in the morning, when the battle began,
and it raged until late in the evening, when Lee's forces were again
compelled to continue their march toward their capital, leaving 700
dead on the field. The loss of the Federals was 1100.

On the next day a bloody engagement occurred at West Point, on
the York river, between the forces of General Franklin and a body of
Confederates under General Magruder. After a spirited contest of three
hours, victory again declared in favor of the Federals, their loss being
80 killed, 300 wounded, and 500 taken prisoners. The loss on the
other side was about 900.

McClellan continued his march toward Richmond; at the same time a
feet of gunboats entered the Chesapeake Bay for the purpose of cooperating
with the land forces in the attack upon the Confederate capital.
On the 15th of May the fleet steamed up the James within eight
miles of Richmond, where the guns of Fort Darling opened fire, and
the Federals met their first reverse before Richmond. After a splendid
artillery fight of five hours the gunboats were compelled to withdraw
down the river to their former anchorage. This did not delay for a
moment the progress of the land forces, and on the 20th of May, McClellan
occupied a position within eight miles of Richmond.

In the meantime General Banks had again marched into the Shenandoah
Valley, where he was opposed by a force of about 25,000 men under
Generals Early and Jackson. For weeks the possession of the "Garden
of Virginia" was disputed by the contending armies; but on the
25th of May, Banks was attacked, defeated at Winchester, and forced

to abandon the valley. His retreating columns were closely pursued
to Williamsport, where they crossed the Potomac and took refuge in
Maryland.