Williamsburg, VA

Date(s): May 5, 1862

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Peninsula Campaign [March-September 1862]

Battles in Campaign:

• Hampton Roads, VA - March 8-9, 1862 B

• Yorktown, VA - April 5-May 4, 1862 B

• Williamsburg, VA - May 5, 1862 B

• Eltham's Landing, VA - May 7, 1862 D¹

• Drewry's Bluff, VA - May 15, 1862 B

• Hanover Courthouse, VA - June 30, 1863 C¹

• Seven Pines, VA - May 31-June 1, 1862 B

• Oak Grove, VA - June 25, 1862 D¹

• Beaver Dam Creek, VA - June 26, 1862 B

• Gaines' Mill, VA - June 27, 1862 A

• Garnetts & Goldings Farm, VA - June 27-28, 1862 D¹

• Savage's Station, VA - June 29, 1862 C¹

• White Oak Swamp, VA - June 30, 1862 C¹

• Glendale, VA - June 30, 1862 B

• Malvern Hill, VA - July 1, 1862 A

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan

• Confederate: Maj. Gen. James Longstreet

Principal Forces:

• Union: 40,768

• Confederate: 31,823

Description:

• Hooker’s division was pursuing the Confederate forces that had retreated from Yorktown when he encountered the Confederate rearguard near Williamsburg.

• Hooker attacked Fort Magruder, an earthen fortification alongside the Williamsburg Road, but was repulsed.

• Confederate counterattacks, directed by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, threatened to overwhelm the Union left flank, until Kearny’s division arrived to stabilize the Federal position.

• Then Hancock’s brigade moved to threaten the Confederate left flank and occupied two abandoned redoubts. 

• Confederate counterattacks were unsuccessful.

• Hancock failed to exploit the Union success and the Confederate army withdrew during the night.

Photo Gallery:²

Williamsburg in the Civil War	Battle Sites Around Williamsburg	Magruder's Defensive Lines Across the Peninsula	Magruder's Defensive Lines Across the Peninsula
Redoubt Number 1	Redoubt Number 1	Redoubt Number 1	Redoubt Number 1
Redoubt Number 1	Redoubt Number 1	Redoubt Number 1	Battle of Williamsburg - Emory's Failed Attack
Quarterpath Road	Quarterpath Road	Johnston and McClellan Used Road	Site of One of Magruder's Lines of Defense
Site of Battle of Williamsburg	Trench Lines Barely Visible from Road	Description of Fort Magruder	Marker at Fort Magruder site which served as the center of the last Confederate line of defense on the Peninsula
Fort Magruder Site	Lt. George Custer's attack on Confederate works	Jones Mill Pond	Jones Mill Pond

Classification³: B

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 2,283

• Confederate: 1,560

Results: Inconclusive

Battlefield Websites: 

• Colonial NHP

• The Peninsula Campaign - HistoryAnimated.com

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009