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== Assessment ==

== Assessment ==

The Overland Campaign gave Grant a reputation as a butcher, not caring about the immense casualties suffered. It helped support the notion that Lee was only defeated by superior numbers, not by good generalship. Although there is a kernel of truth in this, it undestimates and misunderstands General Grant's strategy. The idea in the Overland Campaign was not to take Richmond but to permantly weaken Lee's forces. Grant did succeed in this regard, and Lee never recovered.  Soldiers who fought for Lee seldom came home in one piece, unless they deserted; by the end, most had deseerted. Lincoln,  meanwhile, replaced all Grant's losses and used the Republican Party to hold public opinion in line behind Grant.  Grant became the great American war hero.  

The Overland Campaign gave Grant a reputation as a butcher, not caring about the immense casualties suffered. It helped support the notion that Lee was only defeated by superior numbers, not by good generalship. Although there is a kernel of truth in this, it undestimates and misunderstands General Grant's strategy. The idea in the Overland Campaign was not to take Richmond but to permantly weaken Lee's forces. Grant did succeed in this regard, and Lee never recovered.  Soldiers who fought for Lee against Grant seldom came home in one piece, unless they deserted; by the end, most had deserted. Lincoln,  meanwhile, replaced all Grant's losses and used the Republican Party to hold public opinion in line behind Grant.  Grant became the great American war hero.  

The campaign demonstrated the very high cost in assaulting prepared defensive works.

The campaign demonstrated the very high cost in assaulting prepared defensive works.