| Army of the Peninsula | |
|---|---|
| Active | May 26, 1861–April 26, 1862[1] |
| Disbanded | Incorporated intoArmy of Northern Virginia April 26, 1862 |
| Country |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Type | Field army |
| Garrison/HQ | Yorktown, Virginia |
| Nickname | Magruder's Army |
| Engagements | Battle of Big Bethel |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | John B. Magruder |
TheArmy of the Peninsula orMagruder's Army[2] was aConfederate army early in theAmerican Civil War.
In May 1861,ColonelJohn B. Magruder was assigned to command operations on the lowerVirginia Peninsula withYorktown as headquarters.[1] The ConfederateSecretary of WarLeRoy Pope Walker ordered the Department of the Peninsula into existence on May 26, and the military force was named for the department. Magruder fought a portion of his command to good effect atBig Bethel, an early Confederate victory.[1]
By year's end, the force had swollen to 13,000 men, still commanded by Magruder, nowmajor general. In April 1862 Magruder's army was incorporated into the right wing of the larger army ofJoseph E. Johnston, preparing defenses against an expected attack byGeorge B. McClellan in what would become thePeninsula Campaign. While the army designation ceased to exist, Magruder's army's independence and initiative was instrumental in preventing McClellan from rapidly advancing onRichmond.[2]
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