Why did the Peninsula Campaign fail?

NedBaldwin · Sep 12, 2016

In another thread, 67th Tigers wrote:

67th Tigers said:
On the Peninsula McClellan overcomes several very strong Confederate positions, in spite of lacking the resources he needed. He himself says that the results were "less brilliant" than they would have been with the originally designated force, but about six weeks after he landed on the Peninsula he has driven the rebels back to the defences of Richmond proper. Twice the rebels try and drive him away; firstly by an offensive south of the Chickahominy after Stanton switches McClellan's axis when he was halfway through a river crossing to attack Hanover Court House, and then north of the Chickahominy. This second offensive is successful due to Jackson's forces coming down and cutting McClellan's supply lines. McClellan moves 20 miles south to the James. A few weeks later he starts crossing to the south bank of the James to attack Petersburg and Halleck orders a general retreat.

Prior to the Seven Days McClellan's suppy line was the Richmond and York Railroad. Ewell's division didn't cut that until June 28th. But, according to his report, McClellan had made the decision to abandon this supply line and move to the James two days earlier. So Jackson cutting the line to White House could not be the reason the offensive was successful.

67th Tigers · Sep 12, 2016