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Which battles were part of the Overland campaign between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant?
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Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
The Overland Campaign, a series of relentless military engagements in 1864, featured the following major battles between the Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia led by Robert E. Lee:
- Battle of the Wilderness: Fought from May 5ā7, 1864, this initial encounter in dense, wooded terrain resulted in heavy casualties for both sides.12
- Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Taking place from May 8ā19, 1864, this engagement included intense hand-to-hand combat, most notably at the "Bloody Angle".1
- North Anna River: Following the engagement at Spotsylvania, Grant continued to maneuver against Leeās right flank, leading to a confrontation at the North Anna River.1
- Totopotomoy Creek: Another tactical encounter where Grant found Leeās forces blocking his path toward Richmond.1
- Battle of Cold Harbor: Fought in early June 1864, this battle saw Grant launch heavy frontal assaults that were repelled by Confederate defenses with significant Union losses.1
Following these engagements, the campaign transitioned into the Petersburg Campaign as Grant shifted his objective to the vital rail center of Petersburg.1