Slow Unionist advance into Virginian Peninsula began on April 1862 when George B. McClellan in the strenght of 121,500 thousands of men besieged John G. Magruder's 30,000 soldiers in the Yorktown area. After long siege McClellan planned massive bombardment on 5 May but Confederate force slipped from city and escaped.
The first land battle between two sides was fought near Williamsburg when one third Unionist force attacked Joseph Johnston and fought bloody, inconclusive battle as retreating Confederate forces tried to inflict as many casualties as possible to enemy's forces along with use of partisan warfare in order to weaken Northeners morale. Major General James Longstreet's counterattacks overwhelmed Unionist left flank but he was unable to use his forces further during battle into destruction or crippling this part of Army of the Potomac. McClellan lost more than five thousands of soldiers but many more lost faith in quick victory as they saw bitter fighting against "fanatic and vicious Rebel forces" [quote from History of the Civil War by General Dwight David Eisenhower; 1948].
Battle of Williamsburg raised morale in Southern states as President Jefferson Davis announced that Southern army fought a great victory and caused five times more casualties than received from enemy. Abraham Lincoln made similar statement that Unionist Army caused Confederate retreat but big numbers of killed men effectively discouraged many people from fighting.
Next battle was fought between William B. Franklin's Division against G.W. Smith's two brigades on Etham's Landing (near West Point). Sent by McClellan Unionist soldiers had to cut off Confederate retreating forces and establish strongpoint on the way to rebel's capital city Richmond. Johnson sent two brigades under command of Smith and Whiting to attack them and repulse from Confederate lands.
Despite their orders Unionist forces didn't expected Confederates so early and Smith's forces march was met with great surprise probably due to weak military intelligence just after disembarking from ships. Brigadier General John Bell Hood's Texan brigade regarded as the best Confederate shock troops daring charge on well-defended Unionist forces worked well as green men from Franklin's forces were frightened by their brutality and fierceness. After heavy fighting in which Hood lost two hundred men Unionist forces retreated from battlefield leaving 600 soldiers to be captured.
On May 31 Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm two Federal corps that appeared to be isolated south of Chickahominy River. Well-coordinated Confederate assaults inflicted great casualties on these forces and succeeded in driving back IV Corps. When Johnston was wounded during battle Robert E. Lee succeeded him as commander of Army of the Northern Virginia and renewed fighting on 1 July inflicting serious casualties of Northern side and forcing them to withdraw from Seven Pines.
During battle J.E.B Stuart distinguished himself as excellent cavarly commander when he launched series of brutal charges against Federal forces. His revolutionary method of fighting (mobile strikes into the weakest point in enemy's lines followed by infantry) became precusor to the Confederate Mobile Warfare Mobile during World War I and World War II gaining him fame as Father of the Modern Warfare. One of his the most famous charges during battle was attack from Confederate right flank into Keyes' left flank thus creation of panic within Casey troops and their withdrawal.
The first land battle between two sides was fought near Williamsburg when one third Unionist force attacked Joseph Johnston and fought bloody, inconclusive battle as retreating Confederate forces tried to inflict as many casualties as possible to enemy's forces along with use of partisan warfare in order to weaken Northeners morale. Major General James Longstreet's counterattacks overwhelmed Unionist left flank but he was unable to use his forces further during battle into destruction or crippling this part of Army of the Potomac. McClellan lost more than five thousands of soldiers but many more lost faith in quick victory as they saw bitter fighting against "fanatic and vicious Rebel forces" [quote from History of the Civil War by General Dwight David Eisenhower; 1948].
Battle of Williamsburg raised morale in Southern states as President Jefferson Davis announced that Southern army fought a great victory and caused five times more casualties than received from enemy. Abraham Lincoln made similar statement that Unionist Army caused Confederate retreat but big numbers of killed men effectively discouraged many people from fighting.
Next battle was fought between William B. Franklin's Division against G.W. Smith's two brigades on Etham's Landing (near West Point). Sent by McClellan Unionist soldiers had to cut off Confederate retreating forces and establish strongpoint on the way to rebel's capital city Richmond. Johnson sent two brigades under command of Smith and Whiting to attack them and repulse from Confederate lands.
Despite their orders Unionist forces didn't expected Confederates so early and Smith's forces march was met with great surprise probably due to weak military intelligence just after disembarking from ships. Brigadier General John Bell Hood's Texan brigade regarded as the best Confederate shock troops daring charge on well-defended Unionist forces worked well as green men from Franklin's forces were frightened by their brutality and fierceness. After heavy fighting in which Hood lost two hundred men Unionist forces retreated from battlefield leaving 600 soldiers to be captured.
On May 31 Joseph E. Johnston attempted to overwhelm two Federal corps that appeared to be isolated south of Chickahominy River. Well-coordinated Confederate assaults inflicted great casualties on these forces and succeeded in driving back IV Corps. When Johnston was wounded during battle Robert E. Lee succeeded him as commander of Army of the Northern Virginia and renewed fighting on 1 July inflicting serious casualties of Northern side and forcing them to withdraw from Seven Pines.
During battle J.E.B Stuart distinguished himself as excellent cavarly commander when he launched series of brutal charges against Federal forces. His revolutionary method of fighting (mobile strikes into the weakest point in enemy's lines followed by infantry) became precusor to the Confederate Mobile Warfare Mobile during World War I and World War II gaining him fame as Father of the Modern Warfare. One of his the most famous charges during battle was attack from Confederate right flank into Keyes' left flank thus creation of panic within Casey troops and their withdrawal.
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