Changes

====Final year of the war====

====Final year of the war====

:''"I'm afraid they're going to get me a general I don't understand."'' Lee, on the many changes of generals at the helm of the Army of the Potomac.

:''"I'm afraid they're going to get me a general I don't understand."'' Lee, on the many changes of generals at the helm of the Army of the Potomac.

In May 1864, Lee faced a proven fighter: Ulysses S. Grant, just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

In May 1864, Lee faced a proven fighter: [[Ulysses S. Grant]], just appointed as commanding general of all Union forces, who went after Lee with enormous superiority in men, cavalry, and logistics.  For his part, Grant could neither defeat nor outmaneuver Lee during the next several months; Grant sustained losses of 50,000 men between May and June in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (nearby at Yellow Tavern, Lee would suffer the loss of Jeb Stuart, his favorite cavalry commander and most effective scout), the North Anna, and Cold Harbor (Lee, pp 124-125).   

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions, and go through a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering, his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.  

But Grant kept after him, his losses replaced by new recruits, while Lee’s army was draining in both men and supplies.  Lee had lost the initiative, and when Grant made a move toward the vital rail connection at Petersburg, Lee had no other choice but to place his starving men in defensive positions, and go through a long siege; due to Lee’s mastery of engineering, his field fortifications were able to hold the Federals back from June 1864, to April 1865.  By then, Lee knew it would be a matter of time before the lines would break.