Civil War Sites
The Tidewater area of Virginia is defined by tidal rivers — primarily the James, York and Potomac — that flow from the Chesapeake Bay into the interior of the state. These rivers made the Confederate heartland, including Richmond, vulnerable to attack by water or water-supported land assault.
Most of the Civil War sites in this area are related to the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, which was an attempt by a Union army under Gen. George McClellan to march to Richmond using the "Peninsula" created by the York and James Rivers.
A visitor center at Lee Hall Mansion in Newport News helps explain the Peninsula Campaign. A Virginia Civil War Trails map/brochure is available there and at most visitor centers in Tidewater.