Siege of Yorktown ends after Confederate troops slip away during night 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1862)


Video: 'American Civil War: Siege of Yorktown - "Magruder's Spectacle" - All Parts'

(Sunday, May 4, 1862, Union troops begin occupying Yorktown at dawn; during the Siege of Yorktown, part of the Peninsula campaign of the American Civil War) — Union forces under Gen. George B. McClellan were preparing to unleash a massive bombardment at dawn tomorrow (May 5, 1862) against Confederate troops after a month-long siege at Yorktown, Virginia, only to discover early this morning that the Confederates had slipped away during the night toward Williamsburg.


Video: '1862- 15 "Siege of Yorktown"'

McClellan gave chase but heavy fighting at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, slowed the pursuit, allowing the Confederates to fall back.


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.2of9.A.Very.Bloody.Affair.' (Siege of Yorktown at 57:33)