Sword Over Richmond: An Eyewitness History of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign

The Peninsula Campaign (Spring 1862) ended with Union Gen. George McClellan's failure to capture Richmond, due largely to his overcautiousness as well as the bold and often costly attacks from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army which eventually took the fight out of McCellan's army. Or, at least out of McCellan himself! The campaign made the North realize that a swift end to the war was impossible, and Lee's military brilliance was emerging as well. Although the bloody battles of the Peninsula Campaign were very costly to both sides, McClellan's advance was brought to a halt and Richmond was saved. This outstanding book is yet another great "eyewitness history" from Richard Wheeler, who carefully weaved together scores of Union and Confederate accounts of the campaign to tell the full story. There are dozens of sketches and drawings from the period, as well as many period maps, although the maps aren't very good. To understand this important campaign from the soldiers' perspective, this is THE book to read. I'd look elsewhere for adequate maps of the campaign, though. Overall, highly recommended for Civil War buffs.