Williamsburg VA010
1862-05-05 to 1862-05-05 · VA · Peninsula Campaign [March-July 1862] · frozen result: Inconclusive · NPS summary (as listed)
In the first pitched battle of the Peninsula Campaign, nearly 41,000 Federals and 32,000 Confederates were engaged. Following up the Confederate retreat from Yorktown, Hooker's division encountered the Confederate rearguard near Williamsburg. Hooker assaulted Fort Magruder, an earthen fortification alongside the Williamsburg Road, but was repulsed. Confederate counterattacks, directed by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet, threatened to overwhelm the Union left flank, until Kearny's division arrived to stabilize the Federal position. Hancock's brigade then moved to threaten the Confederate left flank, occupying two abandoned redoubts. The Confederates counterattacked unsuccessfully. Hancock's localized success was not exploited. The Confederate army continued its withdrawal during the night.
Dossier claims
Draft dossier, revision . Claims are extraction records with their quoted passages, not historical adjudication. JSON
information
unknownunresolved
No original reconnaissance, order or message chain was inspected to establish the commanders’ contemporary knowledge. Retrospective explanations of beliefs, surprise or missed opportunities are not independently verified information states.
logistics
unknownunresolved
No inspected battle-specific supply, ammunition or transport return establishes logistical sufficiency or readiness. Formation lists and retrospective praise are not numerical readiness measures.
objectives
supportedunresolved NPS places the action during Union pursuit of the Confederate withdrawal from Yorktown.
Pursuit and rearguard context do not establish an original order to destroy an entire opposing army.
Following up the Confederate retreat from Yorktown, Hooker's division encountered the Confederate rearguard near Williamsburg.nps-va010-v1, Description · snapshot
c5652432b90f…outcome
supportedpost_outcome The frozen result remains Inconclusive.
Retain the frozen outcome and engagement interval. A tactical result, later retreat, success at a local sector and campaign contribution are different measures. No causal effect, half-win or extra independent victory is inferred.
supportedpost_outcome The frozen casualty text reads 3,843 total (US 2,283; CS 1,560). The live NPS table reads 3843 total (US 2283; CS 1560;).
Preserve source versions and population boundaries. No original return was inspected to reconcile totals, categories, missing side breakdowns or reporting cutoffs. A zero display is not no losses; casualties and captured hospital populations are not opening strength. Do not add overlapping battle/component totals.
3,843 total (US 2,283; CS 1,560)arnold-cwsac-battles, battle VA010; column casualties_text · snapshot
952b5d08402a…responsibility
disputedunresolved Webb says Sumner was assigned direction of the land pursuit until McClellan arrived, while Heintzelman reported instructions to control the movement himself.
Retain the reported ambiguity and distinguish it from the principal-commander list. Webb’s proposed explanation and jealousy inference are not adjudicated findings; these instructions precede the May 5 engagement.
The direction of the divisions moving by land, was accord- ingly assigned to Sumnerwebb-peninsula-selections-v1, pp.71–72 (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
3be92161e849…to take command of the troops ordered in pursuit of the enemywebb-peninsula-selections-v1, pp.71–72 (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
3be92161e849…to take control of the entire movementwebb-peninsula-selections-v1, pp.71–72 (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
3be92161e849…strength
unknownunresolved
No inspected return establishes matched personnel at a common opening boundary. The imported numerical force estimates retain their original basis; they are not newly validated as opening counts.
supportedunresolved The frozen force field reads 72,591 total (US 40,768;CS 31,823); the live NPS table reads 72591 total (US 40768; CS 31823;).
These are source fields, not matched opening returns. Preserve vessel versus personnel units, unspecified formations and combined versus side totals. Shared NPS/CWSAC provenance supplies no independent confirmation; displayed zeros are not measured absence.
72,591 total (US 40,768;CS 31,823)arnold-cwsac-battles, battle VA010; column forces_text · snapshot
952b5d08402a…terrain
supportedunresolved NPS describes Fort Magruder as an earthen work alongside the Williamsburg Road.
Fortification and location are attributed context, not an admitted terrain modifier.
Fort Magruder, an earthen fortification alongside the Williamsburg Roadnps-va010-v1, Description · snapshot
c5652432b90f…Open questions
- Original orders, personnel and casualty returns, contemporary message chains, disputed totals and precise command clocks remain deferred after the bounded follow-up. No OCR-to-print or map verification is claimed.
- Keep opening, reinforced, engaged, hospital, captured and vessel populations distinct. Source fields and retrospective judgments do not establish causal contributions.
- Preserve frozen outcomes and campaign membership, including combined/component rows; no automatic commander credit or battle/campaign double counting.