The results of the Overland campaign and other reverses in the Summer of 1864, had not only an effect on the Union's military, but also had an effect on the Northerners. No other six week period in the war was so devastating to Northern morale. This covers in particular military operations from May to June 1864. Also, the Battle of the Crater in July and incomplete successes in breaking Lee's defenses in August and September, had US President Lincoln prepared for a defeat in the November 1864 US presidential election. The election did turn out well for Lincoln, however.
Overland Campaign happened on 1864-05-04.
Overland - the name given to Grant's campaign of May 1864.
The opening move in Grant's Overland Campaign (May 1864). The battle was won by the Confederates. But Grant continued to press Lee into a corner, where he would have to stand siege.
The Wilderness (Overland) Campaign began on May 4, 1864 and the first major clash between Grants Army of the Potomac and Lee's Army of Northern Virginia occurred May 5-6 1864.
As events turned out, neither General Grant nor his commanders could accurately gauge the difficulties the Overland campaign would meet. Grant's forces were far greater in numbers and overall strength, however, no one predicted the extensive use of field fortifications that Lee's engineers had constructed. This became a huge problem for the Union and the idea, that if the Overland campaign plans were executed, the war would be almost over.
On May 4, 1864, US Grant crossed the Rapidan River with 120,000 troops. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had 65,000 troops.
This question refers to the Union's Overland campaign in Virginia in 1864. The campaign began with the Battle of the Wilderness and ended with the Battle of Cold Harbor. The campaign took six weeks and involved three armies, about 200,000 men and produced large numbers of casualties. The North army under US Grant accumulated 64,000 casualties, and 36,000 of them on the South's army led by Robert E. Lee.
The Mule Shoe Salient was one of the US Civil War's largest and most pronounced set of fortifications constructed at Spotsylvania in 1864. The fortifications were constructed under the supervision of Confederate General Ewell. He was following orders received form General Robert E. Lee.
The Wilderness was a battle, not a campaign. It was the first battle of the Overland Campaign (May 1864). Lee had won this battle, but Grant did not retreat. He hung on Lee's flank and eventually crowded him into a corner.
During the 1864 Overland campaign, James C. Duane served as the chief engineer for the Army of the Potomac. Duane was well qualified as he graduated first in his class at West Point. As an aside, Duane's father had been a delegate to the Continental Congress, was mayor of New York City and a delegate to the convention that ratified the US Constitution.
There were masses of battles in 1864. In March of that year, Grant was appointed General-in-Chief, and launched two massive campaigns - the Overland campaign (himself against Lee) and the Atlanta campaign (Sherman against Joe Johnston), as well as ordering Phil Sheridan to clear the Shenandoah Valley of Confederates.
The Battle of the Wilderness was fought from May 5 through May 7, 1864. It was the first battle of the Overland Campaign, fought by Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant after his appointment as a General in Chief of the Union Army.