The Civil War in America: Scene of Operations in Eastern Virginia, Showing McClellan’s Present Position

This fascinating aerial view of Virginia and the waters of the Chesapeake Bay was issued at a pivotal moment for the Union in the early months of the Civil War. McClellan’s army, supported by gunboats, is camped along the James River outside of Richmond after a brutal defeat at the Seven Days’ Battle. The Peninsula campaign was at an end and the field of conflict would shift to the war-torn plains of northern Virginia. Originally published in the August 2, 1862 edition of the Illustrated London News. The following day, General-in-Chief Henry Halleck officially issued the order for McClellan’s retreat.