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Wilderness Campaign. May through June of 1864. Background. Grant impressed Lincoln in the West so he moved him into command of all Union Forces following Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
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Wilderness Campaign May through June of 1864
Background • Grant impressed Lincoln in the West so he moved him into command of all Union Forces following Vicksburg and Gettysburg. • Grant will force Lee to fight a series of battles in defense of Richmond which will cause him to run dangerously low on supplies and men. • May through June 1864
Battles • First battle was at Spotsylvania 50 miles outside of the Confederate capital at Richmond. • Union victory • Grant’s biggest loss was at Cold Harbor • 10 miles N.E. of Richmond • 7,000 Union casualties, but Grant pushed on knowing he would get more re-enforcements • Lincoln was in need of a victory in order to sure up the election of 1864
Petersburg – Confederate stronghold • 10 months of trench warfare before Lee and his army will abandon hope and head south to meet up with the rest of the Army in North Carolina • Preserving the Confederacy with their escape • Battle of the Crater – Union attempted to tunnel under the Confederate lines and set explosions with the attempt to break their lines • Failed cost many lives for the Union • Richmond is evacuated by the Confederates in April of 1865.