American History

General Grant and General Lee fought in the Wilderness Campaign in 1864, resulting to Lees surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. The battle, lasting from May 1864 to April 1865, was part of the American Civil War that ran from 1861 to 1865. General Grant was part of the Union army, the side that favored the government of President Abraham Lincoln. On the other hand, General Lee was part of the Confederate union, which was established by eleven (11) US states that seceded from Lincolns government.

The formation of the Confederate army, composed mostly of black states, was considered as a rebellion towards the Lincoln government. The battle between Grant and Lee was actually raged by Grant to end Lees forces. This eventually culminated to the eradication of the division between the Union and Confederacy, uniting America as one country. One of the major issues for the division was the issue on black slavery. Both generals felt strongly against slavery but they had different views about the issue. General Lee wanted to totally abolish slavery and pursue the secession. General Grant thought slavery was wrong but it was morally necessary, and had to side with the government in fighting against the secession.

The battle fought between the two generals was a series of battles. Grants plan was to destroy Lees army entirely and has ordered the Union army to be where Lee would be to be able to enclose him and capture him.

Grants original plan of attacks was to assault Lee from North of Richmond, with specific location at the Cold Harbor. But after 30 days of strong firepower from the confederate union, Grant realized that he had to change tactics and left North Harbor to position at the south of Richmond specifically, at the south of James River. As Lee acted primarily on defense, Grant realized that they would face an almost impossible scenario to pursue with the original point of attack. He then changed directions- attacking instead from the south of Richmond across Petersburg.

Grants and Lees troops had their first encounter in a forest in Virginia called The Wilderness on the 5th of May. Lees troops and ammunition were inferior in number but this had little to bring Grant victory. In the battle in The Wilderness, it was Lee who launched attacks, disposing Grant to be on the defensive side. The natural features of the forest made it difficult for both troops to fight- the shells had set the forest trees into fire, producing thick smoke that suffocated and eventually killing the wounded. In this battle, Grant lost eighteen thousand men, which were more than Lee had lost. Lees troops fought profusely.

General Grant planned to get to Spotsylvania. Grants plan was to position his troops between Lee and Richmond, but Lee anticipated such move. When the Union Army arrived at Spotsylvania, Lees troops were already positioned there, fighting profusely and refused to surrender their fortress in the place. Realizing this, Grant decided to move his troops beyond the east flank of Lees troops, towards North of Anna River. Both Lees and Grants troops raced towards North Anna River. Lees army was in a very good position, while Grants troops suffered to vulnerability. The curvature form of the Anna River divided General Grants troop into three constituents.

The battle continued at the Cold Harbor, where Grant outraced Lee to the point. Due to exhaustion, however, Grant was not able to intensify his advantage. Lee anticipated Grants attack from the Cold Harbor so they were able to act in defensive, killing 65,000 from Grants troops. Realizing that Lee was on defensive, General Lee left Cold Harbor and started positioning his troops to rage a siege from south of James River.

This change in position proved to outsmart Lee as it was not until after three days that Lee realized Grant had his change in location. The battle in Petersburg lasted ten (10) months, causing Grant to lose 65, 000 men (double what Lee had lost numbering at 35,000). Petersburg eventually fell to the Union but Grant was determined to break Lees defenses and did not care about the city. This has prompted the Union troops to continually siege Lee and his army until the objective is realized. The fall of Petersburg opened the roads to Richmond.

Meanwhile, Lee was at Richmond, protecting it, and was taken by surprise of Grants tactical change in position from Cold Harbor to Petersburg. After the fall of Petersburg, Grant and his men built the longest bridge in history that enabled 150,000 men to cross towards Richmond. Lee, who was still in Richmond defending the fortress, was trapped.