How did Union General US Grant come to the conclusion that it was difficult if not impossible to destroy a Confederate army in the field?

Answer 1

US Grant had come to the conclusion that destroying a Confederate army in the field was near to impossible. This was based not only on his results by by the results of other Union commanders. The Union realized the failure of frontal assaults, and the poor results of generals Hooker, Rosecrans and Meade from flanking from the rear. Only errors by Confederates Pemberton and Floyd allowed their forces to be totally captured by allowing themselves to be pinned against a river. Confederate maneuvering and strong rear guard defenses had proved successful.

At this point Northerners are baffled. One single issue haunts the credibility of the Union army, and it's easy to see why that would be the case.

For example, how many attempts were made to capture Richmond, a city 100 miles south of Washington DC.?