Between March and July of 1862 the Peninsula Campaign was launched by the Union against the Confederates in southeastern Virginia. The operation, which was commanded by General George B. McClellan, was the first large-scale offensive of the eastern theater. The final goal was the capture of the Confederate capital, Richmond. Early success helped the cautious McClellan's popularity, and the number of troops under his command increased. Believing his troops did not have a significant advantage he held the line and developed the Urbanna plan which involved outflanking the Confederate forces by transporting the Army of the Potomac by ship to Urbanna, Virginia. on the Rappahannock River.
Before McClellan was aware General Joseph E. Johnston withdrew the Confederate forces from to new positions below the Rappahannock which immediately nullified McClellan's plan. Much to McClellan's surprise, not only had Johnston's troops escaped without notice, but he had been held at bay, in part, because of quaker cannons which were logs painted to look like real cannons. The Union forces had been fooled for months, McClellan overestimated the strength of the Confederate forces and missed an opportunity. The press pounced on McClellan and on March 11, 1862 President Lincoln removed McClellan as general-in-chief, leaving him in charge of the Army of the Potomac.
-Professor Walter
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