Overland Campaign Facts for Kids

The Overland Campaign was a series of very tough battles during the American Civil War. It happened in May and June of 1864. The main goal for Union General Ulysses S. Grant was to defeat the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. This army was led by General Robert E. Lee. Grant also wanted to capture the Confederate capital city of Richmond, Virginia. These battles were some of the bloodiest of the entire war.

How the Campaign Began
Key Battles of the Campaign
Images for kids
See also

How the Campaign Began

In the spring of 1864, General Grant was put in charge of all Union armies. Grant had a big plan to end the war. He wanted to stop Lee's army from getting more soldiers or supplies. Other Union campaigns, like General William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, helped Grant's Overland Campaign. Even though George Meade was still officially in command of the Army of the Potomac, Grant was really directing all its moves.

Grant gave specific orders to other generals. He told General Franz Sigel to move through the Shenandoah Valley. This was to stop supplies and extra soldiers from reaching Lee's army. Grant also ordered General Benjamin F. Butler's Union Army of the James to cut the railroad lines between Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. This would cut off Lee's main supply line. Grant hoped these actions would force Lee to attack, even if Lee's army was low on supplies and new soldiers.

All these campaigns were planned to start in early May. Grant's Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River on May 4. They moved south towards a thick forest area called The Wilderness. This forest was about 70 square miles (180 km²) and had very dense, tangled trees. It was hard to see or move armies there. Lee attacked Grant's army while they were still trying to get through this difficult forest. This first fight was called the Battle of the Wilderness. It marked the start of the Overland Campaign.

Key Battles of the Campaign

The Overland Campaign included several major battles:

Battle of the Wilderness (May 5 to May 7): About 29,800 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured (casualties).
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8 to May 21): Around 30,000 casualties.
Battle of North Anna (May 23 to May 26): About 4,000 casualties.
Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31 to June 12): Around 15,500 casualties.

Images 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.
Sheridan's Richmond Raid, including the Battles of Yellow Tavern and Meadow Bridge
Movements in the Overland Campaign, May 27–29, 1864, following the Battle of North Anna
Movement to Totopotomoy, May 25–28, 1864, following the Battle of North Anna
Battle of Haw's Shop
Movements in the Overland Campaign, May 29, and actions May 30, 1864
OC11 Battle of Totopotopotomoy.jpg

Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, May 30, 1864
Maj. Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith
Positions of the armies on the afternoon of June 1, 1864
Cold Harbor, June 1
Cold Harbor, June 3
Pontoon bridge across the James River
Crossing the James River, 12–16 June 1864.
Routes of Federal and Confederate cavalry to Trevilian Station, June 7–10, 1864
Sheridan's return to the Army of the Potomac from his Trevilian Station raid
Actions in the Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
5 a.m., May 6. Hancock attacks Hill on the Plank Road
6–10 a.m., May 6. Longstreet counterattacks
11 a.m., May 6. Longstreet attacks Hancock's flank from the railroad bed
2 p.m. until dark, May 6.
Movements on May 7, 1864; cavalry actions inset
Positions and movements on the Union flanks, May 9
Grant attacks, May 10
Grant's grand assault, May 12
Reorienting the lines, May 13–16
Movements, May 17, final Union attacks, May 18
Actions on May 23: Hancock attacks "Henagan's Redoubt", A.P. Hill attempts to repulse Warren's beachhead
Actions on May 24: Ledlie attacks Ox Ford, Hancock attempts to advance against the eastern leg of the inverted "V"
Stalemate: Union and Confederate positions May 25–26
Rodes's attack
Ramseur's attack
Actions on June 11
Actions on June 12
Key to operational maps.
Map 1: Movements into the Wilderness: 4 May 1864.
Map 2: Movement to Battle in the Wilderness: 5 May 1864.
Map 3: Movement from the Wilderness to Spotsylvania: 7–8 May 1864.
Map 4: Movements to Yellow Tavern: 8–11 May 1864.
Map 5: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: 21 May 1864.
Map 6: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: Evening 21–22 May 1864.
Map 7: Movement from Spotsylvania to the North Anna: Evening 22–23 May 1864.
Map 8: Movement from the North Anna to Cold Harbor: 27 May 1864.
Map 9: Movement from the North Anna to Cold Harbor: 28 May 1864.
Map 10: Movement to Cold Harbor - Union Probes: 29 May 1864.
Map 11: Movement from Cold Harbor to the James River: 12–14 June 1864.
Map 12: Union II and XVIII Corps move on Petersburg: 15 June 1864.

Overland Campaign facts for kids

Contents

How the Campaign Began

Key Battles of the Campaign

Images for kids

See also