Peninsula Campaign/Grant's Overland Campaign: Charles City/Wilcox's Landing
1861-1865
Charles City, the capital of Charles City County, sits on the Peninsula between Fort Monroe and Richmond. Sited in such a critical location, it had the opportunity of hosting both armies on more than one occasion. A few miles away, at Weyanoke and at Wilcox’s Landing, Grant crossed the James River to assault Petersburg.
When George McClellan launched his Peninsular Campaign his path took him though Charles City. While no battles were fought in Charles City itself, the county hosted several that came to be part of the Seven Days.
The Peninsular Campaign itself began as a contest between McClellan and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, but Johnston was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks and replaced by Robert E. Lee.
After defeating Lee at Beaver Dam Creek and again a few miles east of Charles City at Malvern Hill (with a big loss at Gain's Mill in between), McClellan had a plan, he wanted to transfer his army across the James River and attack Richmond from bellow before Lee could reorganize his army and get over the river himself. This was basically the same plan Grant would follow in 1864 but Lincoln would not allow it. So the Army of the Potomac dug in around Charles City and Wilcox Landing, where they were under the protection of Union gunboats, while McClellan argued for his plan in Washington. The Confederates feared the gunboats so there were no attacks but many small skirmishes and Confederate troops had to be careful anytime they were moving near the river as we see in this message home from Alexander O’Briant written July 5, 1862:
Charles City
The old Library now used as a visitor's center and the Confederate Solder Monument. The third oldest courthouse in the nation. This is where the army of the moment would rule I love these old monuments to the gallant Confederate dead. They’re always in front of the courthouse.
Evelynton
Located a few miles east of Charles City, Evelynton was the home of Edmund Ruffin the man who fired the first shot of the Civil War at Fort Sumter. Here Ruffin conducted agricultural experiments before the war. Works were dug across Ruffin’s fields to the north of the main house, and they can still be seen there, to this day. Serious skirmishes took place on the property during the Peninsula Campaign, damaging many of the buildings. It is not open for visitation.
Wilcox's Landing also called Wilcox's Warf
June 14-17, 1864
Grant ferried his advanced troops across the James River to Windmill Point from Wilcox’s Landing while a pontoon bridge was built across the river downstream at Weyanoke.
Wilcox's Landing
Windmill Point in the distance, where the Union Army landed on its way to Richmond.
This photo was taken near Charles City.