The Peninsula Campaign and Save Days Battles
The spring of 1862 saw the Civil War enter its second year and a new leader for the Army of the Potomac. With a new year and a new leader came a bold new strategy: The Peninsula Campaign. General George B. McClellan devised a grand plan to transport over 100,000 men and supplies by water - a massive undertaking that required over 300 vessels - down the coast to reach the peninsula south east of Richmond. The imposing force would land near the historic locations of the Jamestown settlement and Yorktown. If McClellan could pull off the bold maneuver with speed and efficiency, the war could be over. However, speed and efficiency are not terms used to often describe the campaign tactics of the general who would challenge Lincoln in the election of 1864.
The combat of the Peninsula Campaign featured a a variety of tactics. The Navy provided transport for over 100,000 troops. Ironclads duels off the coast of Hampton Roads. A Union naval assault on Richmond was turned back by fortifications at Drewry's Bluff. Fearful of being outnumbered, McClellan resorted to siege tactics to overpower his opponents. Confederates constructed impressive fortifications defending their capital and the any approaches to it. By the end of the campaign there was a new Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee. Lee took advantage of McClellan's timidity by launching a series of offensives that would ultimately drive the Union back down the peninsula. |
* * * Discussion Questions * * *
1. In what ways did the combat and strategies of the Peninsula Campaign reflect the modernization of warfare?
2. How was new Confederate commander Robert E. Lee able to take advantage of McClellan's sluggish maneuvers?
3. How did McClellan's performance and relationship with President Lincoln foreshadow the remainder of his military service?
4. In what ways did Robert E. Lee's offensive assaults during the Seven Days Battles indicate his future battle tendencies?
2. How was new Confederate commander Robert E. Lee able to take advantage of McClellan's sluggish maneuvers?
3. How did McClellan's performance and relationship with President Lincoln foreshadow the remainder of his military service?
4. In what ways did Robert E. Lee's offensive assaults during the Seven Days Battles indicate his future battle tendencies?
Primary Sources
A collection of papers from a family living on the Peninsula including two letters from those affected.
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New commanding general Robert E. Lee offers his summary on the military actions of the Seven Days Battles.
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Emerging Civil War highlights the writings of "the next generation of Civil War historians and the fresh ideas they bring to the historical conversation". The link below takes you to their site and their analysis of contemporary newspaper articles as they described
the growing legend of Jeb Stuart's "Ride Around McClellan".
the growing legend of Jeb Stuart's "Ride Around McClellan".