YORKTOWN. Siege of, in the Civil War. On 4 April 1862 Gencrai McClellan, with 58.000 men and about 1(K) guns, started from Fort Mon roe up the York Peninsula for his campaign against Richmond. His plan of operation was to move in two columns, one on the right direct to Yorktown and another along the James River westward of and beyond Yorktown to the vicinity of Williamsburg. Should the Confed erate works at Yorktown and Williamsburg offer serious resistance he designed to land Gen eral McDowell's First Corps, reinforced if nec essary, on the left hank of the York or on the Severn, and move it on Gloucester and West Point, in order to take in reverse whatever force the enemy might have on the peninsula and compel him to abandon his positions. At the end of the first day's march General Heintzel man's Third Corps on the right bivouacked at Howard's Bridge and Cockletown beyond, and General Keyes' Fourth Corps on the left, at Young's Mill, near James River. On 5 April Keyes resumed his march for the Halfway House, between Yorktown and \Villiamshurg, hut had hardly got on the road when it was as certained that a large force of the enemy, with a battery, was at Lee's Mills, six miles 'beyond, barring the way over the Warwick, concerning the. direction of which McClellan was misin formed. Keyes advanced and in the afternoon found the situation as reported; and after some anillerv-firing he encamped for the night. On the right Heintzelman advanced to near York town, came under artillery-fire from the works and encamped fronting them, where he was destined to remain a full month. Yorktown, as well as the line of the Warwick southward to James River, was held by Gen. J. B. Magruder with about 11.000 men. For 10 days McClellan remained in front of Magruder. making some reconnoissances, hut no serious demonstrations, although urged by President Lincoln on 6 April to move trpoti and break the enemy's line. Mc Clellan was instead engaged in bringing up troops and guns preparatory to a regular siege arid was asking for heavy reinforcements and more heavy siege-guns adopted the slow method of a siege laTatise of his exaggerated a the Confederate strength in his front, although he at no time estimated the forces of Magruder at more than 15000 to 20,000 and his own initial strength of 56,000 moo had been in• creased to 100,970 men present for duty accord ing to his report of 13 April. He declared him self seriously weakened by the fact that Mc Dowell's Corps of 33.400 men, which he had pro posed using to flank Yorktown, by Gloucester and West Point, had been withheld from him to protect Washington which had been left with a guard of less than 20,000 raw troops. (See PENINSULA CAMPAIGN OP 1862). However, at McClellan's urgent request Franklin's Division was sent him 10 April. but these troops were
held aboard their transports until after the evac uation of Yorktown. On 16 April an attempt was made upon Magruder's lines at Lee's Mill (q.v.) by a reconnoitering force of 200 men who were not reinforced, hut resulted in fail tire, and McClellan, giving up the idea of carry ing the Confederate position by assault, devoted his attention entirely to siege operations against Yorktown. Unthr the direction of Gem Fitz John Porter, who V1' aS made director of the siege, Gen. J. G. Barnard, chief of engineers, and Gcn. W. F. Barry, chief of artillery, the operations were conducted elaborately and with great skill. General Barry reports that the siege train consisted of 101 pieces, as follows: °Too 200-pounder Parrot rifled guns, eleven 100-pounder Parrot rifled guns, thirteen 30 pounder Parrott rifled guns, twenty-tx° 20 pounder Parrott titled guns. ten rifled siege guns, ten 13-inch sea-coast mortars, ten 10-inch sea-ceast mortars, fifteen 10-inch siege mortars. five 8-inch siege mortars, and three 8-inch siege howitzers. Three field batteries of 12-pounders were likewise made use of as guns of position.• These guns were mounted on very elaborate works, sonic 15 in number, established the town, and the works to its right, at ranges varying from 1,500 to 2,200 yards. In number and weight of metal they were far su perior to those of the Confederates. On 17 April Gen. J. F Johnston had been assigned to the defense of the peninsula and Richmond, and he had on the Yorktown and \Vans ick line not to exceed 50,000 men. He made no strenuous effort to interfere with McClellan's operations, but determined to hold his position until Mc Clellan was ready to attack and then to fall back to have bus troops driven from works. By 30 April MWC1(1ton had pres ent for ditty 112,3()2 men, including Franklin's division that had been sent to him to wen York town by Gloucester Point or West Point. On 1 May McClellan proposed to open fire on the morning of 6 May with all his guns and to press the siege until final assault should be deemed practicable. But on 27 April Johnston had learned that 11cOellan's batteries were approach ing completion and would he ready to open fire in five or six days and he made his dispositions for retreat. On the night of 3 May, leaving some serviceable heavy guns behind. he evacu ated Yorktown and fell hack to Williamsburg on the way to Richmond.
Consult 'Official Records' (Vol. XI); 'Mc Clellan's Own Story' ; Webb, 'The Peninsula' ; Barnard, 'Peninsular Campaign': Allan. 'His tory of the Army of Northern Virginia' ; The Century Company's 'Rattles and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol II); Nicotay and Hay, 'Abraham Lim (du' ( Vol. V.