The Peninsula Campaign: June 25 to July 1, 1862
The Confederate defense line at Chickahominy Bluff is still visible.
Richmond is the capitol of Virginia and the home of General Robert E. Lee. It is situated on a series of hills above the James River, about 110 miles from Washington, D. C. In 1861 it was a major industrial center fot the South, boasting fourtreen iron foundries, six rolling mills, six iron railing plants and fifty iron and metal works. The Tredegar Iron Works served as a valuable asset to the Confederates. Nearby was the armory and munition mills. Because the city was a major transportation center, being the terminus of five railroads as well as the Kanawha Canal, its destruction was the primary objective of the Union armies. After the Union army was routed from First Manassas, Lincoln appointed General McClellan as commander of the Federal forces. In March of 1862 McClellan led the Army of the Potomac into the field. His plan was to move his army by boat along the James and York Rivers while General McDowell marched from the North. McClellan moved his army by ship down the Potomac River, disembarking at Fort Monroe. Meanwhile, the Confederates anticipated a Union attack, moved South to meet the threat. They built a line of defenses across the peninsula from Yorktown to the James River. Many attacks and skirmishes occurred from Yorktown to Washington. General Johnston was wounded, and on June 1st his command was passed to General Robert E. Lee who took command on the last day of the battle of Seven Pines.
