12. The Union General Who Came Close to Capturing Richmond in 1862
In March, 1862, Union General George B. McClellan outflanked the Confederate main army in Northern Virginia by landing 121,000 men on the Virginia Peninsula to the south, between the James and York rivers. The goal was to march up the Peninsula and capture Richmond before the Confederates had time to rush in reinforcements to protect their capital. Things went smoothly at first, as McClellan successfully disembarked with no difficulty, and began his march to Richmond. The only opposition between McClellan and Richmond were 12,000 Confederates at Yorktown, commanded by General John B. Magruder and outnumbered 10 to 1 by Union forces.
Magruder, aware that his small force stood no chance in a fight, and desperately needing to buy time until reinforcements arrived, set out to bamboozle McClellan into slowing down. Fortunately for the Confederates and unfortunately for the Union, Magruder was the right man in the right place at the right time. He was known before the war for his florid manner and proneness to theatrics and ostentatious displays. Now, he resorted to theatrics and display to put on a show and trick McClellan into believing that he faced far stronger opposition than was the case. He pulled it off.
