Overland Campaign

The Overland Campaign was a series of battles in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It took place during May and June of 1864. Union general Ulysses S. Grant wanted to defeat the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee, and to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.David W. Hogan Jr, The Overland Campaign, 4 May — 15 June 1864 (Washington, DC: Center of Military History, United States Army, 2014), pp. 10–16 The battles were some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

 Background 
In the spring of 1864, Grant had been appointed to command all Union armies. Grant's plan to end the war had several parts. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and Grant's Overland Campaign were supported by other campaigns. They were all intended to keep Lee from reinforcing his main army. George Meade was still in (nominal) command of the Army of the Potomac, but there was little doubt Grant was in direct control of the army's movements.

Grant ordered General Franz Sigel to advance down the Shenandoah Valley to prevent reinforcements and supplies from reaching Lee's army. Grant ordered Benjamin F. Butler's Union Army of the James to cut the rail lines between Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. This interrupted Lee's main supply line. Grant wanted to force Lee to attack even though Lee had no reinforcements and few supplies.

The campaigns were all to start at the beginning of May. The Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River on May 4, moving south towards The Wilderness before Lee could attack them. But Lee attacked while Grant's army was still trying to move through the tangled forest. The Battle of the Wilderness started the campaign.

 Battles 
 Battle of the Wilderness (May 5th to May 7th), 29,800 casualties.
 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8th to May 21st), 30,000 casualties. 
 Battle of North Anna (May 23rd to May 26th, 4,000 casualties.
 Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31st to June 12th), 15,500 casualties.

 Notes 

 References 

 Other websites 

 The Civil War in Four Minutes: The Overland Campaign
 The Overland Campaign; Annimated History

Category:American Civil War battles
Category:1864 in the United States