Midmonth of March 1862, General McClellan started the Peninsula Campaign by landing his Army of the Potomac from ships at Fort Monroe, Virginia. The Peninsula being the land between the York River on the north and the James River on the south running from Hampton Roads to Richmond. To take Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would have to fight its way up the Peninsula. 

Davis Ford crossing Occoquan Creek, Prince William County, Virginia, (historical) crossing :Inundated by Occoquan Reservoir Latitude: 384307N Longitude: 0772004W (MAP)

April 4 - 6, 1862 - Company E arrived at Orange Court House to and part of the regiment was already there to meet them. Rudulph Letter1

Railroad Accident on the way from Manassass to Richmond?????

April 5, 1862 General McClellan's army was  at Yorktown.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PENINSULA,
Lee's Farm, April 7, 1862.

General WILCOX:

SIR: The commanding general directs me to say that Colonel Seibels' Sixth Alabama Regiment is now in Yorktown awaiting orders. You will therefore order them to Colonel Ward's position, and such other troops as may have arrived at Yorktown you will place in position upon your line at such points as you may think most necessary, there to await further orders.

Brigadier-General Rodes will report to you to-day. You will assign his brigade to position. The Sixth Alabama, Colonel Seibels, is part of his command.

Look particularly and carefully to the upper dam, between Ward's and Winston's position, and report your views in regard to the line as well as what is taking place thereon.

General Rodes, with the larger part of his command, will join you from this direction.

By order of Major-General Magruder:

A. G. DICKINSON, Assistant Adjutant-General.

April 11, 1862 the 6th Alabama was present at Yorktown. Rudulph Letter 2 . The 6^th Alabama had moved to Yorktown Virginia with the Confederate Army of the Potomac under General Johnston to meet the Union Army of the Potomac under General McClellan. As was many other green units arriving from the South, they were reorganized and reenlist for the war. The Confederate Army of the Potomac became the Army of Northern Virginia.  

Most of the Confederate troops had pulled back to Williamsburg, including the 6^th Alabama, leaving Major General Magruder to entertain General McClellan for a while. With true showmanship, Major General Magruder, behind his earthworks, convinced Major General McClellan that he had met an equal or at least a substantial force. 

On the morning of May 4, 1862, Major General McClellan was to begin his attack on Yorktown  He had spent a month building earthworks and bringing up his heavy cannon to begin a siege on Yorktown. On that self same morning, General Magruder left McClellan holding an empty bag as he made a strategic withdrawal during the night and joined up with General Johnston a few miles away at Williamsburg.

May 5, 1862, Major General McClellan probably feeling like he had been on a snipe hunt, leaving his heavy cannon follow from Yorktown, hurried after Major General Magruder and made his attack on Williamsburg the next day . The 6^th Alabama was on the field at Williamsburg Virginia or Fort Magruder but not under fire. The one-day battle was the first major conflict for the 6^th Alabama for the Peninsula Campaign with total estimated casualties for both sides was 3,843. The Confederates were successful in holding but making no gains with the Union Army through several attacks and counterattacks at an earthwork beside the Williamsburg road that would become known as Fort Magruder. The Confederate Army continued their withdrawal during the night to not meet again in force with the Federals until the battle of Seven Pines. Major General McClellan was left to gather his scattered forces and contend with the Confederate troops left along the way to delay his progress toward Richmond.

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