Peninsular Campaign

Peninsular Campaign, in the U.S. Civil War, unsuccessful Union campaign against the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., Apr.–July 1862, led by General George B. McClellan across the peninsula between the James and York rivers. Although the Union troops, 100,000 strong, initially inflicted severe losses on the rebels, they were heavily defeated in the Seven Days Battles (June 26–July 2) by Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee.

See also: Civil War, U.S.