In one of the earliest troop movements of the Civil War -- coming in June 1861 -- Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder established three defensive lines across the Peninsula in an attempt to maintain control of it. The first of the three lines extended between Harwood's Mill in the east, along the Poquoson River to Young's Mill in the west. Young's Mill became one of the earliest encampments near Williamsburg. At Young's Mill, Confederate troops set up a fortified encampment, where soldiers waited to deploy along the lines. However, as the Union troops advanced on the position, they met little resistance and eventually discovered the camp at Young's Mill abandoned.
Camp Hamilton was situated in what is now the Phoebus area in the city of Hampton. It was established as an overspill from Fort Monroe, where General McClellan's vast Union Army landed in early 1862 in preparation for the Peninsula Campaign. It was a large campground that stretched from the shore of Hampton Roads to the Hampton National Cemetery, just over a mile away. Camp Hamilton was a major signal of intent from the Union forces and was situated only 35 miles from the city of Williamsburg.
The next major Union encampment was founded at Camp Winfield-Scott near Yorktown, only a few miles from Williamsburg. The Union were able to establish this camp in May of 1862, following General Samuel P. Heintzelmann's assault on Yorktown and the Confederate Army's subsequent retreat. From here, General McLellan was able to launch an assault on the city of Williamsburg to the west. Contemporary photographs show a huge camp of white tents, with McLellan's headquarters in the middle.
General John Bankhead Magruder's Confederate troops defended Williamsburg from their camp at Fort Magruder. The fortified camp was strategically positioned to prevent advances along two highways: one leading from Yorktown and one from further south on the Peninsula. The camp was the scene of ferocious fighting in May 1862 as Union troops attempted to advance on Williamsburg. As of 2011, only about one third of the earthworks remain.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of other Civil War camps in Virginia, including sites at Harrison's Landing and Berkeley Plantation, between 30 and 50 miles from Williamsburg. It is at these camps that General George McClellan's 100,000 strong Union Army waited following the end of the Peninsula Campaign, and also where President Abraham Lincoln came to visit McClellan in an attempt to spur him into action.
