the battles of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor 1864

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

Time and again as Grant attacked through rural Virginia, Lee moved his army quickly before establishing powerful defensive lines.

Spotsylvania : phase 2 (may 13-19 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

As Lee improved his new defenses along the base of the ‘mule shoe’ salient, Grant and Meade shifted the bulk of the federal army east to attack Spotsylvania from another angle.

‘the bonnie blue flag’ by Don Troiani

‘a brigade today – we’ll try a corps tomorrow’ by Rick Reeves

Spotsylvania : phase 1 (may 8-12 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

Determined to press on with their campaign against Lee, Grant and Meade ordered the federal army south to Spotsylvania Court House.

overland campaign map

‘Lee to the rear’ by Rick Reeves

‘Lee’s texans’ by Don Troiani

‘into the wilderness’ by Dan Nance

the wilderness (may 5-7 1864)

source : ‘the atlas of the civil war’ by James M. McPherson, Courage Books, 2005

On may 4, 1864, the federal army of the Potomac, 120.000-strong, plunged across the Rapidan river and disappeared into the forbidding ‘wilderness’.

general Grant’s spring campaign 1864

source : ‘the American civil war story’ BBC history magazine

General Ulysses S. Grant took command of all Union armies in early 1864 and adopted a harsh strategy designed to destroy the Confederacy’s capacity to wage war.

‘into the wilderness’ by Keith Rocco

‘excelsior’ by Don Troiani

the bloody wilderness

source : ‘american civil war zouaves’ elite 062, Osprey publishing

During 1863 and 1864 three Union regiments who had previously been clad in regulation army dress were issued zouave uniforms as a reward for their proficiency at drill and to maintain the proud zouave legacy.