.NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK· VIRGINIA National Battlefield Park UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • ]. A. Krug, Secretary National Park Service • Newton B. Drury, Director Capital of the Conj ederacy, Richmond became for 4 years the objective of the Federal Armies in the East RICHMOND THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN SYMBOL OF THE SOUTH GEN. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN'S ill-starred cam­ paign in the spring and summer of 1862 brought RICHMOND, VA., as capital of the Confederate battles to the very gates of Richmond, which in States of America during the Civil War, 1861--65, the aggregate surpassed in magnitude any pre­ was regarded as the symbol of the Southern Gov­ viously fought in the Western Hemisphere. The ernment. In consequence, throughout the con­ Federal plan of attack involved a giant pincer flict, Federal Armies made repeated attempts to movement against the Confederate Capital. capture this important city. Seven "on to Rich­ McClellan, with the Army of the Potomac, mond" drives, in the Eastern Theater of War, was expected to effect a landing on the penin­ were aimed at the Confederate Capital. Five of sula between the James and the York Rivers these were turned back some distance away, two and to advance from the east, while Gen. Irvin at Manassas and three in the vicinity of Fred­ McDowell, with a second Federal Army, ericksburg, while two act\lally brought the fight­ marched overland from Washington to join ing dangerously close to the Capital. From a McClellan's troops as they approached Rich­ strategic point of view the selection of Rich­ mond. McClellan brought his forces to the pen­ mond, near the head of the navigable James insula by water, and, after compelling the River and within 110 miles of the Federal Cap­ Southern forces to withdraw from their forti­ ital at Washington, D. C. , was not ideal. Never­ fications at Yorktown, pushed steadily forward. theless, for 4 years the city was successfully Toward the end of May, he had reached a point defended against all attacks and was not evac­ so close to Richmond that his observers in uated until after General Grant had broken the balloons could see the church spires of the city. Confederate lines at Petersburg, April 2, 1865. McDowell, on his southward march, had ar­ By then almost every part of the South had been rived at Fredericksburg and expected to join overrun. When Richmond was abandoned, on McClellan for the final move on Richmond. In April 3, there followed swiftly the surrender of the meantime, however, Gen. T.]. (Stonewall) General Lee at Appomattox, and the end of the Jackson, at the head of the Confederate troops Southern Confederacy. in the Shenandoah Valley, made a series of COVER: Capitol Square, Richmond, about 1860. From a contemporary print. Courtesy Library of Congress. lightning-like moves which endangered the July 1. At Malvern Hill the Federals, in a strong National Capital, and McDowell was recalled position commanding the James River, resisted for the protection of Washington. the Confederate attacks; that night they moved On May 31 , Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, com­ away to their new base at Harrison's Landing. manding the defense of Richmond, attacked Only McClellan's skillful handling of his un­ McClellan in the Battle of Seven Pines, or Fair wieldy masses in retreat, combined with Con, Oaks as it is also called. The Confederates .were federate mistakes, saved the Army of the Poto­ repulsed and Johnston was wounded, but the mac from destruction. In the Peninsula cam­ battle disclosed to the Federals the immense paign the defense of their Capital cost the Con­ difficulties that would be experienced should federates 28,431 men out of 69,732 engaged, they continue the march on Richmond. while the Federals lost 23 ,119 out of a total When the two armies next clashed, Robert number of 116,102 troops. E. Lee was at the head of the Southern forces, After the Seven Days' Battles and McClellan's and the Federals were on the defensive. withdrawal from Harrison's Landing, nearly 2 McClellan had delayed too long before the years passed before the armies returned to the city, and the interval of calm had given Lee gates of Richmond to fight again. In the mean­ time to gather reinforcements from Georgia time, the earthen forts and breastworks were The moat in front of Confederate trenches, The Watt House, Gen. Fitz-John Porter's and the Carolinas. Toward the end ofJune the strengthened and extended until, by 1864, the Fort Harrison. headquarters, Gaines' Mill. Confederates took the offensive in an attempt city was almost encircled by three lines of de­ to cut the Federals from their supply base at fense. During this time also, three Federal at­ with the avowed objective of crushing Lee'-s minutes Grant's fate in this engagement was White House on the Pamunkey River. On tempts on Richmond were turned aside-at Sec­ army and capturing Richmond. A month of definitely sealed, and in that brief period his June 26, Lee attacked and dislodged the Fed­ ond Manassas and Fredericksburg, in August hard fighting left the battlefields of the Wilder­ casualties exceeded 7,000 in killed and wounded. eral outposts at Mechanicsville, but was severely and December 1862, and at Chancellorsville, in ness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Desultory fighting continued until noon. repulsed at Beaver Dam Creek nearby. McClel­ May of 1863. In this interval the Confederate and the Totopotomoy behind, and by June 1 The Battle of Cold Harbor, which saved lan, however, fell back that night to the vicinity forces had twice invaded Northern territory, his troops were moving in on Cold Harbor, a Richmond for another 9 months, proved to be of Gaines' Mill where, the next day, he received meeting with defeat at Antietam, September strategic crossroads in the approach to Lee's last major victory in the field. Grant, in an assault delivered with such violent impact 1862, and at Gettysburg, July 1863. Richmond. later years, acknowledged his mistake at Cold that he was compelled to begin a hasty though The one day for which the Battle of Cold Harbor and wrote in his Memoirs, "I have always masterfully organized retreat to the James River. COLD HARBOR Harbor is best remembered is June 3, 1864. regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor In rapid succession followed the bitterly IN MAY 1864, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, newly Here, on part of the old battlefield of Gaines' was ever made." His losses for the period June contested battles of Savage Station, June 29; appointed supreme commander of the Federal Mill, Grant shifted his five corps, 117,343 2-15, 1864, numbered 12,737, while Lee's losses Frayser:s Farm, June 30; and Malvern Hill, forces, personally joined his troops in the field, troops, into position along a 6-mile front and for the same period are estimated to have been issued orders for an attack on Lee's lines for under 2,000. The use of field fortifications in The parapet of Union Fort Burnham (formerly Confederate Fort Harrison). 4:30 a. m., June 3. Lee, with approximately this battle further established their value in From a wartime photograph. 60,000 troops, posted his men and artillery be­ modern warfare . ,, hind earthworks which commanded every field of approach on a front extending from near THE LAST 10 MONTHS Grapevine Bridge to a point beyond Mechanics­ BY JUNE 15, Grant had moved south of the ville. James River to Petersburg. Here the conflict Grant's orders were executed promptly. The continued, chiefly in the form of siege opera­ troops advanced under a deafening roar of artil­ tions, until April 2, 1865, when the Confed­ lery and rattle of musketry that was immedi­ erate lines were severed. In the meantime, sev­ ately echoed by Lee's lines. Soon all was con­ eral thrusts were made against Richmond from fusion. Federal soldiers penetrated the Confed­ north of the James. The most important of erate right flank only to be repulsed. Lee's these culminated in the capture of Fort Harri­ position was well selected, and the cross-fire son, a strongly fortified position considered the of his artillery was deadly in its effect. In 30 key to Richmond. The Confederates built new fortifications to compensate for this loss and Military Park; Petersburg National Military along these respective lines the opposing forces Park; and Appomattox Court House National faced each other until Richmond was aban­ Historical Monument. doned on April 3, 1865. RICHMOND NATIONAL Upon evacuation of the city, the Confederate HOW TO REACH THE PARK BATTLEFIELD PARK government authorized the burning of ware­ THE park headquarters and museum, located at houses and supplies. This resulted in consider­ Fort Harrison, 10 miles southeast of the Cap­ VIRGINIA able destruction to houses in the business dis­ itol Square in Richmond, is reached by way of Note: M ileages shown denote trict. The end of the war was now close at hand. distance from Broad Street and Virginia Routes 5 and 156. A Richmond, Virginia. Lee, with the remnant of his army, surrendered complete tour of the battlefield requires a 57- to Grant at Appomattox Court House, April mile drive and is outlined on the map. 9, 1865. THE PARK FACILITIES RICHMOND National Battlefield Park was estab­ MARKERS, maps, and interpretive devices situ­ lished July 14, 1944, in accordance with an act ated along the 57-mile battlefield park route of Congress dated March 2, 1936. The property help the visitor to understand the military oper­ was originally acquired by a group of public­ ations. Additional information may be obtained spirited Virginians who donated it to the Com­ at park headquarters, where a small museum monwealth of Virginia in 1932.