It was a grand scheme, called 'the stride of
a giant,' and yet the 1862 Peninsula
Campaign never achieved the lofty goal
envisioned by its architect, Union Gen.
George B. McClellan.
McClellan launched the largest amphibious
operation in American military history when
he loaded the Army of the Potomac on
ships and sailed from Washington through
the Chesapeake Bay to Fort Monroe in
March 1862. His scheme was to use naval
superiority and the unique topography of
Virginia's Peninsula as partners in the
quest to capture the rebel capital of
Richmond.
Had it worked as planned, the Peninsula
Campaign might have ended the war
immediately. Yet nothing flowed nearly as
smoothly as the "Little Napoleon" desired.
His advance was delayed by a number of
factors, not the least of which was a lack of
experience on anyone's part to make an
operation of that magnitude succeed.
As we visit the Peninsula, we'll understand
how McClellan came to be frustrated on
land, sea and river and we follow the
campaign from Fort Monroe to Drewry's
Bluff on the James River and end at the
Battle of Seven Pines.
a giant,' and yet the 1862 Peninsula
Campaign never achieved the lofty goal
envisioned by its architect, Union Gen.
George B. McClellan.
McClellan launched the largest amphibious
operation in American military history when
he loaded the Army of the Potomac on
ships and sailed from Washington through
the Chesapeake Bay to Fort Monroe in
March 1862. His scheme was to use naval
superiority and the unique topography of
Virginia's Peninsula as partners in the
quest to capture the rebel capital of
Richmond.
Had it worked as planned, the Peninsula
Campaign might have ended the war
immediately. Yet nothing flowed nearly as
smoothly as the "Little Napoleon" desired.
His advance was delayed by a number of
factors, not the least of which was a lack of
experience on anyone's part to make an
operation of that magnitude succeed.
As we visit the Peninsula, we'll understand
how McClellan came to be frustrated on
land, sea and river and we follow the
campaign from Fort Monroe to Drewry's
Bluff on the James River and end at the
Battle of Seven Pines.
Itinerary
Day 1
8:30 p.m. Gather to meet guide
Robert Freis
Day 2
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
5 p.m. Return to inn
Day 3
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
5 p.m. Return to inn
Day 4
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
12 noon - Return to inn
Day 1
8:30 p.m. Gather to meet guide
Robert Freis
Day 2
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
- Fort Monroe & Casemate
Museum - Battle of the Ironclads
- Mariner's Museum and
U.S.S. Monitor - Newport News Municipal
Park and walking tour of
Dam #1 combat site
5 p.m. Return to inn
Day 3
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
- Yorktown battlefield
- Gloucester Point
fortifications - Endview Plantation
- Ft. Magruder and Battle of
Williamsburg
5 p.m. Return to inn
Day 4
8 a.m. Depart inn to tour:
- Drewry's Bluff
- Battle of Seven Pines and
Fair Oaks
12 noon - Return to inn
Peninsula Campaign
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