Overland Campaign facts for kids

Union staff meeting at Massaponax Baptist Church on May 21, 1864. Grant has his back to the smaller tree with Charles Anderson Dana to his left, while Meade is seated at the far left.

The Overland Campaign was a series of battles in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It took place during May and June of 1864. Union general Ulysses S. Grant wanted to defeat the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee, and to wikt:capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. The battles were some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Background

In the spring of 1864, Grant had been appointed to command all Union armies. Grant's plan to end the war had several parts. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and Grant's Overland Campaign were supported by other campaigns. They were all intended to keep Lee from reinforcing his main army. George Meade was still in (nominal) command of the Army of the Potomac, but there was little doubt Grant was in direct control of the army's movements.

Grant ordered General Franz Sigel to advance down the Shenandoah Valley to prevent reinforcements and supplies from reaching Lee's army. Grant ordered Benjamin F. Butler's Union Army of the James to cut the rail lines between Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. This interrupted Lee's main supply line. Grant wanted to force Lee to attack even though Lee had no reinforcements and few supplies.

The campaigns were all to start at the beginning of May. The Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River on May 4, moving south towards The Wilderness before Lee could attack them. But Lee attacked while Grant's army was still trying to move through the tangled forest. The Battle of the Wilderness started the campaign.

Battles

• Battle of the Wilderness (May 5th to May 7th), 29,800 casualties.
• Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8th to May 21st), 30,000 casualties.
• Battle of North Anna (May 23rd to May 26th, 4,000 casualties.
• Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31st to June 12th), 15,500 casualties.

Images for kids

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  Sheridan's Richmond Raid, including the Battles of Yellow Tavern and Meadow Bridge

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  Movements in the Overland Campaign, May 27–29, 1864, following the Battle of North Anna

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  Movement to Totopotomoy, May 25–28, 1864, following the Battle of North Anna

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  Battle of Haw's Shop

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  Movements in the Overland Campaign, May 29, and actions May 30, 1864

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  Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, May 30, 1864

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  Maj. Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith

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  Positions of the armies on the afternoon of June 1, 1864

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  Cold Harbor, June 1

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  Cold Harbor, June 3

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  Pontoon bridge across the James River

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  Crossing the James River, 12–16 June 1864.

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  Routes of Federal and Confederate cavalry to Trevilian Station, June 7–10, 1864

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  Sheridan's return to the Army of the Potomac from his Trevilian Station raid

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  Actions in the Wilderness, May 5, 1864.

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  5 a.m., May 6. Hancock attacks Hill on the Plank Road

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  6–10 a.m., May 6. Longstreet counterattacks

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  11 a.m., May 6. Longstreet attacks Hancock's flank from the railroad bed

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  2 p.m. until dark, May 6.

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  Movements on May 7, 1864; cavalry actions inset

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  Positions and movements on the Union flanks, May 9

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  Grant attacks, May 10

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  Grant's grand assault, May 12

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  Reorienting the lines, May 13–16

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  Movements, May 17, final Union attacks, May 18

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  Actions on May 23: Hancock attacks "Henagan's Redoubt", A.P. Hill attempts to repulse Warren's beachhead

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  Actions on May 24: Ledlie attacks Ox Ford, Hancock attempts to advance against the eastern leg of the inverted "V"

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  Stalemate: Union and Confederate positions May 25–26

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  Rodes's attack

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  Ramseur's attack

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  Actions on June 11

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  Actions on June 12

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  Key to operational maps.

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  Map 1: Movements into the Wilderness: 4 May 1864.

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  Map 2: Movement to Battle in the Wilderness: 5 May 1864.

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  Map 3: Movement from the Wilderness to Spotsylvania: 7–8 May 1864.

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  Map 4: Movements to Yellow Tavern: 8–11 May 1864.

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  Map 5: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: 21 May 1864.

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  Map 6: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: Evening 21–22 May 1864.

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  Map 7: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: Evening 22–23 May 1864.

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  Map 8: Movement from the North Anna to Cold Harbor: 27 May 1864.

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  Map 9: Movement from the North Anna to Cold Harbor: 28 May 1864.

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  Map 10: Movement to Cold Harbor - Union Probes: 29 May 1864.

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  Map 11: Movement from Cold Harbor to the James River: 12–14 June 1864.

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  Map 12: Union II and XVIII Corps move on Petersburg: 15 June 1864.

See also

In Spanish: Campaña de Overland para niños