After the Union's combat reverses of 1861, General George B. McClellan was appointed general in chief of all U.S. armies, and his administrative and organizational skills helped bring Federal forces into fighting trim. Overly cautious about deploying his armies, however, McClellan had to be prodded by President Lincoln into leading the Union's powerful Eastern Theater force, the Army of the Potomac, into the field. But in March 1862, that army, some 105,000 men strong, was transported by boat to the Virginia Peninsula (Hampton, Virginia, sits at the Peninsula's toe). McClellan made slow progress toward the Confederate capital at Richmond, always convinced he was facing much stronger Southern forces than he actually was. Lasting until July, the Peninsula Campaign resulted in some Union gains, but failed in its main objective. Union forces withdrew, and the Confederate government remained secure in Richmond, protected by a Confederate force remained the Army of Northern Virginia by its new commander, General Robert E. Lee.

Above caption by Margaret Wagner, Publishing Office, Library of Congress

William McIlvaine was a landscape painter born in 1813. After studies in Europe and being in business with his father, he began exhibiting European scenes at the Artists Fund Society in Philadelphia. He joined the Gold Rush and sketched along the Merced and Tuolumne rivers. While a member of the New York Volunteers during the Civil War, he produced many drawings such as this one.

Medium : 1 drawing, watercolor

Created/Published :1862

Creator : William McIlvaine, artist, 1813-1867

Part of the Marian S. Carson Collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

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Product #: cph3g06697