Changes

== Major Battles ==

== Major Battles ==

[[Battle of the Wilderness]] (May 5-7, 1864): On May 4, Grant crossed the Rapidan River and attempted to move through the Wilderness, a dense growth of scrub on and near the site of the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], before Lee could catch up. The Army of Northern Virginia, however, was able to catch the Army of the Potomac, forcing the armies to fight within the scrub forest, negating Union artillery superiority. In doing so, Lee won a tactical victory, dealing 17,000 casualties while only taking 7500. Rather than withdrawing to recover, however, Grant ordered the army southeast to the important crossroads of Spotsylvania Courthouse in an attempt to move around Lee's right.

[[Battle of the Wilderness]] (May 5–7, 1864): On May 4, Grant crossed the Rapidan River and attempted to move through the Wilderness, a dense growth of scrub on and near the site of the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], before Lee could catch up. The Army of Northern Virginia, however, was able to catch the Army of the Potomac, forcing the armies to fight within the scrub forest, negating Union artillery superiority. In doing so, Lee won a tactical victory, dealing 17,000 casualties while only taking 7500. Rather than withdrawing to recover, however, Grant ordered the army southeast to the important crossroads of Spotsylvania Courthouse in an attempt to move around Lee's right.

[[Spotsylvania Courthouse]] (May 8-21): Lee again beat Grant to the new battlefield, building strong breastworks and trenches. Grant attempted to attack a [[salient]] known as the mule shoe, sovering heavy casualties at what became known as [[The Bloody Angle of Spotsylvania]]. Again Grant disengaged to the South, attempting to move around Lee's right flank.

[[Spotsylvania Courthouse]] (May 8–21): Lee again beat Grant to the new battlefield, building strong breastworks and trenches. Grant attempted to attack a [[salient]] known as the mule shoe, sovering heavy casualties at what became known as [[The Bloody Angle of Spotsylvania]]. Again Grant disengaged to the South, attempting to move around Lee's right flank.

[[Yellow Tavern]] (May 11): [[General Phillip Sheridan]]'s cavalry force had been released to track down and defeat [[General J.E.B. Stuart's]] Confederate cavalry. At Yellow Tavern, the two cavalry forces met and Stuart was mortally wounded.

[[Yellow Tavern]] (May 11): [[General Phillip Sheridan]]'s cavalry force had been released to track down and defeat [[General J.E.B. Stuart's]] Confederate cavalry. At Yellow Tavern, the two cavalry forces met and Stuart was mortally wounded.

[[North Anna]] (May 23-26): Lee again beat Grant to a new position, forming trenches behind the North Anna River. Although given a chance to heavily damage Grant's armies after poorly executed attacks, Lee mismanaged his own attacks. The Confederates successfully held of the Union army, which again redeployed.

[[North Anna]] (May 23–26): Lee again beat Grant to a new position, forming trenches behind the North Anna River. Although given a chance to heavily damage Grant's armies after poorly executed attacks, Lee mismanaged his own attacks. The Confederates successfully held of the Union army, which again redeployed.

[[Cold Harbor]] (May 31-June 12): On May 31, Sheridan's cavalry captured the junction at Cold Harbor and held it against Confederate attacks. As the Army of the Potomac began to arrive, Lee's army dug into strong entrechments. On June 3, Grant ordered a futile and costly attack on the works, costing him 7000 casualties in about an hour. Cold Harbor represented the geographical end of Grant's attempts to outflank Lee and force him into open battle, and Grant was forced to shift his strategy to one of besieging Lee's army by threating Richmond. On June 15, Grant redeployed his army across the James River and forced the Siege of Petersburg.

[[Cold Harbor]] (May 31-June 12): On May 31, Sheridan's cavalry captured the junction at Cold Harbor and held it against Confederate attacks. As the Army of the Potomac began to arrive, Lee's army dug into strong entrechments. On June 3, Grant ordered a futile and costly attack on the works, costing him 7000 casualties in about an hour. Cold Harbor represented the geographical end of Grant's attempts to outflank Lee and force him into open battle, and Grant was forced to shift his strategy to one of besieging Lee's army by threating Richmond. On June 15, Grant redeployed his army across the James River and forced the Siege of Petersburg.