The Civil War Campaign of 1862 During the American Civil War, successful Confederate campaign June–July 1862 to drive back Union forces threatening Richmond, Virginia. The success of the campaign was largely due to the tactical initiatives of General Robert E Lee, a military commander and an adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and it established his reputation as a military strategist. Two Union armies were advancing on Richmond: one of about 100,000 troops under General George McClellan had landed at Fort Monroe on the Virginia Peninsula; the second under General Irwin McDowell began moving south from Alexandria