Johnston would be retreating to Williamsburg which was at a narrow point in the Peninsula. The central anchor point of the line of earthworks at Williamsburg was Fort Magruder located just east of town and yards from the intersection of the roads from Yorktown and Hampton. A total of thirteen additional forts (redoubts) were constructed on both sides of Fort Magruder creating a four mile long line. Small trenches and rifle pits were placed in front of the line.

On May 4th within hours of discovering the Confederates had evacuated Yorktown McClellan sent Brigadier General George Stoneman with four regiments of cavalry and mounted artillery in pursuit of the Rebels. The column broke through a rear guard of two companies of Confederates 2 miles below Williamsburg at Whitaker’s Mill. By 3:00 PM Stoneman’s column was shelling Williamsburg. A spirited fight occurred between Stoneman’s column and the Rebels at several points along the Old Yorktown Road until darkness intervened. Johnston realized that although the line of earthworks at Williamsburg were well constructed they did not extend to either the James or York Rivers and could be flanked. His two largest divisions commanded by Magruder and Major General DH Hill were already on the road to Richmond and Longstreet’s division would man the Williamsburg line and fight a delaying action until all the wagon trains could clear the area.

The Union army was stymied leaving Yorktown because the Rebels had placed multiple land mines in the town. Brigadier General Samuel Heintzelman’s III Corps was behind Stoneman on the Yorktown Road. Brigadier General Erasmus Keyes’ IV Corps left from Lee’s Mill. By the morning of the 5th the majority of the Federal column were near Williamsburg. Fighting began along the Warwick Road when two companies of the 1st MA and 2nd NH under Brigadier General Joseph Hooker drove skirmishers from the 4th SC commanded by Colonel Micah Jenkins back to their earthworks. Brigadier General Edwin Sumner would be commanding the Federals in the field as McClellan was still back in Yorktown. Hooker sent the rest of Brigadier General Cuvier Grover’s brigade forward supported by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Wainwright’s artillery but they were unable to advance against Jenkins’ men. Fighting continued along the Confederate right on the Warwick Road with each side funneling in brigades in a piecemeal fashion. At 8:30 AM Confederate Brigadier General Cadmus Wilcox advance was countered by the addition of four New Jersey regiments under General Francis Patterson. This is interpreted in the recently installed Civil War Trails sign shown below.

Confederate Brigadier General AP Hill extended the Confederate right with the 7th and 11th VA while Colonel Nelson Taylor’s Excelsior Brigade joined the action on the Union left. Longstreet called up Brigadier General George Pickets brigade who were back at the College of William and Mary and the Rebels now outnumbered the Federals along the ravine on the Confederate right. The Union left was breaking under pressure from 12 Confederate regiments when the timely arrival of General Phil Kearny’s division and Brigadier General John Peck’s brigade stemmed the tide.

On the Confederate right much of Longstreet’s force advanced between Redoubts 2 and 3 across the Quarterpath Road. Redoubts #1 and #2 are largely preserved in Redoubt Park at 510 Quarterpath Road. A part of Redoubt #3 is preserved on the grounds of the Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center at 6945 Pocahontas Trail. A part of Fort Magruder still exists but is inside the chain link fence. A part of Redoubts #12 and 13 are within New Quarter Park at 1000 Lakeshead Drive.

Redoubt #3

Interpretation at and near the Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center at 6945 Pocahontas Trail the site of redoubt #3.

Fort Magruder- Redoubt #6

You can see much of the earthwork from the fence even in these pictures taken in summer.

One can see the earthworks behind the Confederate monument.

Meanwhile General Sumner learned some key information from a group of escaped slaves. The earthworks on the Confederate far left near a dam were unoccupied. Sumner sent General Winfield Scott Hancock with a brigade of infantry and artillery to investigate and turn the Confederate left if the information was accurate. Hancock’s men crossed the dam and captured an unoccupied redan and two other earthworks. Hancock sent word back to Sumner at Union headquarters that he had turned the Confederate left and deployed skirmishers. He had a clear line of sight to Fort Magruder if reinforced he could roll up the entire left of the Confederate line. Unfortunately, Sumner with his hands full on his left did not immediately respond. Longstreet growing concerned about his left around 3:00 PM sent Duncan McRae’s brigade under Brigadier General Jubal Early off in that direction. The 24th VA and 5th NC ran into Hancock’s skirmishers driving them back before realizing there were no other Confederates in the area and then Hancock’s line of infantry and artillery opened fire and cut the two regiments to pieces. The 5th NC suffered more than 250 casualties in 20 minutes. Hancock was reinforced later in evening. By the morning of the 6th Longstreet was gone and the Federals marched into Williamsburg unopposed. McClellan established his headquarters at the Vest-Palmer house.

Parts of this portion of the battlefield that are publically accessible include portions of Redoubts #12 and #13 in New Quarter Park at 1000 Lakeshead Drive.

Redoubt #12

Redoubt #13 is also in the park

The inside wall

The outside wall

According to the Official Records 456 Union soldiers were killed, 1410 wounded and 373 captured or missing for a total of 2239 casualties. Confederate casualties were a total of 1271 with 167 killed, 757 wounded of which at least 13 would die shortly of their wounds, and 133 missing. Pryor’s Brigade suffered 214 casualties but did not break them down.

Next- The Peninsula Campaign Part 13- A Civil War Traveler Goes to Colonial Williamsburg?

Sources

Civil War Williamsburg by Carson O. Hudson, Jr

To Hell or Richmond The 1862 Peninsula Campaign by Doug Crenshaw and Drew A. Gruber

To the Gates of Richmond The Peninsula Campaign by Stephen W. Sears

The Peninsula Campaign of 1862 Yorktown to the Seven Days Volume Three Edited by William Miller.