The year 1864 marked a critical turning point in the American Civil War, and at its heart was Grant’s Overland Campaign. This relentless series of brutal engagements, also known as the Wilderness Campaign, unfolded across the dense forests and contested landscapes of Virginia throughout May and June of that pivotal year.
Upon assuming command of all United States armies in March 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant vowed to fundamentally alter the Union’s war strategy. With the nation weary from unspeakable bloodshed, impending soldier enlistment expirations, and President Abraham Lincoln facing re-election, Grant understood the urgent need for a decisive path to victory and the swift accomplishment of Union war aims. His primary objective was clear: to defeat General Robert E. Lee and his formidable Army of Northern Virginia. Lee’s army had proven the Confederacy’s most successful fighting force, and its ultimate downfall was deemed essential for ending the rebellion.
Grant’s Strategic Vision: Relentless Pursuit
Choosing to make his headquarters directly with the Army of the Potomac, Grant personally conveyed the paramount importance of capturing Lee’s army to General George Gordon Meade, the Army of the Potomac’s commander. This marked a significant shift; previous Union commanders in the Eastern Theater had often focused on territorial objectives like Richmond, whereas Grant understood that destroying Lee’s army was the key to collapsing the Confederacy.
While his main effort was concentrated on Lee, Grant simultaneously orchestrated a comprehensive strategy involving parallel campaigns across various fronts. These included operations in the Trans-Mississippi, the Shenandoah Valley, and along the James River east of Richmond. Crucially, he dispatched his trusted subordinate, General William T. Sherman, on a major campaign against Atlanta, ensuring sustained pressure on the Confederacy from multiple directions. Despite suffering immense losses, the Overland Campaign ultimately proved a strategic Union victory. It inflicted disproportionately higher casualties on Lee’s forces and expertly maneuvered his army into a protracted siege at Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, all within a span of just over eight intense weeks.
Key Engagements of the Overland Campaign
Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864)
The Overland Campaign commenced with the Battle of the Wilderness, an offensive launched by the Union Army in Spotsylvania and Orange Counties, Virginia. This chaotic engagement, also known by various local names like Parker’s Store, saw fierce, often inconclusive fighting amidst dense woods and tangled undergrowth. On May 5th, the Union V Corps attacked Ewell’s Corps, while A.P. Hill’s Confederate corps clashed with elements of the Union VI and II Corps. The battle raged into May 6th, with Union General Hancock initially driving back Hill’s Corps before General James Longstreet’s timely arrival stabilized the Confederate right flank. A devastating Confederate flank attack faltered when Longstreet himself was wounded. Despite horrific casualties and tactical draws in many sectors, General Grant distinguished himself by refusing to retreat, a stark departure from previous Union commanders. Instead, on May 7th, he ordered an advance by the left flank towards Spotsylvania Court House. This massive engagement, involving over 160,000 troops, resulted in approximately 18,400 Union and 11,400 Confederate casualties, highlighting the campaign’s brutal nature from its outset.
Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21, 1864)
Following the Wilderness, Grant’s southward push was temporarily halted at Spotsylvania Court House. This two-week battle comprised a series of intense skirmishes and massive assaults. On May 12th, the Union attack on the infamous “Bloody Angle” achieved significant success, capturing nearly a division of Lee’s army and almost severing the Confederate line. However, tenacious Confederate counterattacks eventually plugged the gap, leading to some of the most ferocious and sustained close-quarters combat of the entire war, lasting almost 20 hours. On May 19th, a Confederate attempt to outflank the Union right at Harris Farm was repulsed with heavy losses. Despite significant casualties on both sides, including several high-ranking generals, Grant again disengaged on May 21st, continuing his relentless flanking movement towards Richmond. Casualties were estimated at 18,000 Union and 12,000 Confederate, underscoring the costly determination of the Union advance.
Yellow Tavern (May 11, 1864)
Concurrently with the main struggle at Spotsylvania, Major General Philip Sheridan’s Union cavalry corps embarked on a daring raid towards Richmond. This expedition aimed to disrupt Lee’s vital road and rail communications. The climax of this cavalry thrust came at the Battle of Yellow Tavern in Henrico County. Despite being outnumbered, the Confederate cavalry under the legendary Major General J.E.B. Stuart fought fiercely but was ultimately defeated, with Stuart himself being mortally wounded – a severe blow to the Confederacy. Sheridan then threatened Richmond’s defenses before linking up with Major General Benjamin Butler’s command. After resupplying, Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac on May 25th, having achieved a Union victory with an estimated 800 total casualties, significantly impacting Confederate morale and capabilities.
North Anna (May 23-26, 1864)
Continuing the Overland Campaign, Grant’s forces again advanced, only to confront Robert E. Lee’s ingeniously designed “hog snout line” fortifications along the North Anna River. This defensive posture forced Grant to divide his army into three vulnerable sections to mount an attack. On May 23rd, intense fighting occurred at Jericho Mill and Telegraph Road Bridge. The following day saw Union infantry repulsed at Ox Ford, though they advanced near the Doswell House on the Confederate right. General Lee, despite being ill, recognized an opportunity to strike an isolated portion of the Federal army, but the moment passed. Recognizing the trap, Grant skillfully withdrew both wings of his army back across the North Anna River and outflanked the position by moving downstream. This inconclusive battle, with an estimated 4,000 total casualties, demonstrated Lee’s defensive mastery but also Grant’s persistent strategic maneuvering.
Wilson’s Wharf (May 24, 1864)
On May 24th, Confederate Major General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry division, numbering around 3,000 men, launched an attack on the Union supply depot at Wilson’s Wharf in Charles City. However, they were decisively repulsed by approximately 1,800 Union troops, notably two regiments of black soldiers, under Brigadier General Edward Wild. This engagement, also known as the Battle of Fort Pocahontas, marked a clear Union victory and inflicted an estimated 165 total casualties, highlighting the vital role of Union forces in securing critical supply lines.
Haw’s Shop (May 28, 1864)
As the Union Army of the Potomac moved to cross the Pamunkey River and advance towards Totopotomoy Creek, Brigadier General David M. Gregg’s cavalry division, supported by Brigadier General Alfred T. A. Torbert’s division, engaged Confederate Major Generals Fitzhugh Lee’s and Wade Hampton’s cavalry divisions near Enon Church in Hanover County. The fighting, which also saw the arrival of Confederate Brigadier General M.C. Butler’s brigade, evolved into a seven-hour dismounted cavalry combat. Despite the prolonged engagement, the Federal advance was halted. With both Union and Confederate infantry beginning to arrive, the battle remained inconclusive, resulting in estimated casualties of 344 Union and 400 Confederate troops.
Totopotomoy Creek/Bethesda Church (May 28-30, 1864)
The strategic maneuvers of the Overland Campaign continued with operations along Totopotomoy Creek in Hanover County. After cavalry actions at Dabney’s Ferry and Crump’s Creek, the Confederates entrenched themselves behind Totopotomoy Creek. On May 29th, Union II, IX, and V Corps probed Lee’s defensive line. The following day, while the VI Corps struggled in swampy terrain, the Union II Corps managed to cross Totopotomoy Creek in two locations, capturing the first line of Confederate trenches before being halted. Simultaneously, the V Corps, near Bethesda Church, faced a vigorous attack from Early’s Confederate corps and was driven back to Shady Grove Road after heavy fighting. This complex series of engagements, marked by intense probing and counterattacks, was inconclusive, with both sides suffering approximately 1,100 casualties.
Old Church (May 30, 1864)
While the main armies remained stalemated along the Totopotomoy Creek line, Federal cavalry continued to probe eastward and southward in Hanover County. Brigadier General Alfred Torbert’s Division successfully attacked and defeated Confederate Brigadier General Matthew C. Butler’s Brigade near Old Church, also known as the Battle of Matadequin Creek. Butler’s troopers were steadily driven back along the road to Old Cold Harbor. This Union victory, which incurred about 900 total casualties, proved crucial by opening the path for General Philip Sheridan’s capture of the strategically important Cold Harbor crossroads the very next day.
Cold Harbor II (May 31-June 12, 1864)
One of the most infamous and costly battles of the Overland Campaign, the Second Battle of Cold Harbor, involved some 170,000 soldiers in Hanover County. On May 31st, Union General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry secured the vital crossroads. Early on June 1st, using new repeating carbines and hastily dug entrenchments, Sheridan’s troopers repelled a Confederate infantry attack. As reinforcements arrived for both sides, the Union VI and XVIII Corps assaulted Confederate works later that day with some initial success. By June 2nd, both armies formed a formidable seven-mile front. However, the dawn assault on June 3rd by the Union II, XVIII, and later IX Corps against the heavily fortified Confederate lines proved catastrophic, resulting in a devastating slaughter at all points. Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant famously stated in his memoirs that this was the only attack he regretted ordering. The armies confronted each other in a grim stalemate until the night of June 12th, when Grant, ever persistent, once again advanced by his left flank, moving towards the James River. This decisive Confederate victory resulted in an estimated 13,000 Union casualties compared to approximately 2,500 Confederate losses.
Trevilian Station (June 11-12, 1864)
As the campaign progressed, Major General Philip Sheridan launched a large-scale cavalry raid into Louisa County, aiming to draw off Confederate cavalry and facilitate a broader Union movement towards the James River. On June 11th, Sheridan’s divisions, under Brigadier Generals David M. Gregg and Alfred T. A. Torbert, engaged Confederate General Wade Hampton’s and Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry divisions at Trevilian Station. Sheridan initially drove a wedge between the Confederate forces, creating confusion. However, on June 12th, fortunes reversed. Generals Hampton and Lee dismounted their troopers, establishing a strong defensive line that effectively countered Sheridan’s advance and thwarted his objective of permanently cutting the Virginia Central Railroad. The battle was largely a tactical Confederate victory, although costly for both sides’ cavalry commands.
Conclusion: The Strategic Legacy of the Overland Campaign
The Overland Campaign, despite its horrific butcher’s bill for the Union, stands as a testament to Ulysses S. Grant’s unyielding determination and strategic brilliance. For the first time, a Union commander in the Eastern Theater refused to retreat after battle, instead pressing continuously towards Lee’s army. Grant understood that the true objective was not territory but the destruction of the Confederate fighting force. Though each battle brought immense casualties, the relentless pressure inflicted proportionally greater losses on Lee’s less replaceable forces. This sustained offensive severely weakened the Army of Northern Virginia, eventually forcing it into the entrenched siege lines around Richmond and Petersburg. The campaign irrevocably shifted the momentum of the war, setting the stage for the final year of conflict that would ultimately lead to Confederate surrender. Grant’s tenacious pursuit, regardless of cost, broke the stalemate and placed the Union firmly on the path to victory.
