The Campaigns of the Civil War series was originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1881-1883. A landmark of Civil War history, the series remains of keen interest to historians, re-enactors, and other Civil War enthusiasts for its detailed accounts of military and political affairs, as well as its portrayals of the soldiers and statesmen who waged the conflict. The Peninsula: McClellan’s Campaign of 1862 by Alexander S. Webb is the third of twelve volumes in this series.
Author Alexander S. Webb, who actually participated in some of the action herein described, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his participation in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the Civil War, Webb served for decades as President of the City College of New York.
Among the events described in Webb’s The Peninsula are the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Williamsburg, the Battle of Fair Oaks, the Seven Days Battle, and the Battle of Malvern Hill. The Peninsula is highly tactical in subject matter, clearly authentic in tone, and un-flinching in its assessment of General George B. McClellan, his participation in the Peninsula Campaign, and of his eventual dismissal as Commander of the Army of the Potomac by President Abraham Lincoln.