The year 1862 opened at the east with very general dissatisfaction over the long inaction of General McClellan. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was at Manassas and Centreville with some 50,000 men, but General McClellan, misled by his secret service, continually insisted that there were three times that number. The Army of the Potomac numbered fully 150,000 present for duty. The Potomac was blockaded and the Confederate flag floated on Munson's Hill in sight of Washington. On 31 January President Lincoln gave McClellan a peremptory order to move on Manassas not later than 22 February. McClellan asked leave to present a plan of his own for a movement down the Potomac, up the Rappahannock, across to York and thence to Richmond. While he was discussing it, John ston, placing ((Quaker guns' in his embrasures at Centreville, withdrew unmolested behind the Rappahannock to a line of works and field depot already prepared.
Just as his movement began occurred the ominous attack, 8 March, of the Confederate ironclad Merrimac, Flag Officer Franklin Bu chanan, which suddenly moved out from Nor folk and attacked the Union fleet in Hampton Roads (q.v.), sinking the frigate Cumberland, capturing and destroying the frigate Congress, doing much other damage and startling the entire Eastern coast. On resuming operations the next day the Merrimac was met and foiled by the Monitor, Lieut. John L. Worden (q.v.), which had just arrived. The Merrimac then retired to Norfolk, being blown up when the Confederates evacuated that city, 9 May. See MONITOR AND MERRIMAC.
McClellan was allowed to undertake his Peninsula campaign (q.v.). On 11 March he was relieved from the general command of the ar mies. The Army of the Potomac was trans ported to Fort Monroe and the movement up the peninsula toward Yorktown (q.v.) began 4 April. Heavy rains caused delays from the start. It was found at Washington that the
designated number of men had not been left for the proper defense of the capital. McDowell's corps was therefore retained. Arriving before Yorktown with about three times the strength of the enemy, he concluded to lay regular siege to the position. (See LEE'S MILLS). Parallels were therefore opened, nearly 100 heavy siege guns were brought up and at the end of a month, as his batteries were about to open, Gen. J. E. Johnston evacuated the place 3 May and withdrew toward Richmond. He halted at Williamsburg (q.v.), where on the 5th an attack was made upon his lines and at night he withdrew toward Richmond. (See WEST POINT, ENGAGEMENT AT). McClellan followed to the Chickahominy. On 15 May the Union fleet in the James made an unsuccessful attack on Drewry's Bluff (See FORT DAR LING), eight miles below Richmond. On 20 May the right of his army crossed the Chiclahominy (see also HANOVER COURT Housz) and advanced to Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks (q.v.), about five miles from Richmond, where he was attacked by General Johnston 31 May. The prompt advance of Sumner's corps from the other side of the Chickahominy pre vented serious disaster. At the close of the day General Johnston was badly wounded and carried from the field. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith commanded temporarily and was suc ceeded 2 June by Gen. Robert E. Lee, who con tinued in command of the Army of Northern Virginia until Appomattox. On 1 June the battle was renewed by the Confederates, the troops regained their lost ground and Lee with drew to the fortifications of Richmond.
On 16 June the Union forces on James Is land in Charlestown harbor, under General Ben hatn, met with a severe repulse at Secession ville (q.v). General 4StonewalP Jackson, by a brilliant campaign in the Valley, had prevented