Siege of Yorktown Facts

April 5–May 4, 1862

Siege of Yorktown facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

George McClellan, Portrait

Because Major General George B. McClellan’s army held the field after forcing the Rebel defenders to abandon the Warwick Line, the Siege of Yorktown was tactically a federal victory. [Wikimedia Commons]

Also Known As

  • Battle of Yorktown

Date and Location

  • April 5–May 4, 1862
  • York County and Newport News, Virginia

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Potomac

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Army of the Peninsula
  • Army of Northern Virginia

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 121,500

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 35,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 182 (killed, wounded, captured/missing

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 300 (killed, wounded, captured/missing

Result

  • Inconclusive

Timeline of the Peninsula Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Peninsula Campaign in order. The battles that occurred from June 25 to July 1, 1862, are collectively known as the Seven Days Battles.