Siege of Yorktown Facts

April 5–May 4, 1862

Key facts about the Union Siege of Yorktown during the Peninsula Campaign.

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]

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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.

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Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Siege of Yorktown Facts
  • Date April 5–May 4, 1862
  • Author
  • Keywords siege of yorktown
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date March 28, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update May 5, 2022

Siege of Yorktown Facts is Part of the Following on AHC

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