It’s March 1864 — Newly promoted Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the newly formed United States Army, has decided to place his command in the field with the largest arm of the Union War Machine -- The Army of the Potomac. Still encamped outside Culpeper, Virginia, this 120,000-man force has been staring across the Rapidan River at their Confederate adversaries to the South all Winter. Within the next 8 weeks, Grant will launch this army South, directly into the teeth of General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, and begin the bloodiest military campaign of the Civil War: The Overland Campaign.

It’s March 1864 — Newly promoted Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the newly formed United States Army, has decided to place his command in the field with the largest arm of the Union War Machine -- The Army of the Potomac. Still encamped outside Culpeper, Virginia, this 120,000-man force has been staring across the Rapidan River at their Confederate adversaries to the South all Winter. Within the next 8 weeks, Grant will launch this army South, directly into the teeth of General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, and begin the bloodiest military campaign of the Civil War: The Overland Campaign.

It is May 1864, and President Lincoln has now promoted Ulysses S. Grant -- the hero of the Western Theater -- to the rank of Lieutenant General -- a rank only held in wartime by George Washington. Grant's task is to now lead the Union army against the Confederate rebels during the most unstable time in United States history. If Grant fails, it could lead to peace with the Confederates and a continuation of slavery in North America for generations to come. The wartime stakes could never be higher!

It is May 1864, and President Lincoln has now promoted Ulysses S. Grant -- the hero of the Western Theater -- to the rank of Lieutenant General -- a rank only held in wartime by George Washington. Grant's task is to now lead the Union army against the Confederate rebels during the most unstable time in United States history. If Grant fails, it could lead to peace with the Confederates and a continuation of slavery in North America for generations to come. The wartime stakes could never be higher!

It is March 1864, and President Lincoln is concerned. The first real victory in the East -- The Battle of Gettysburg -- is short-lived when General George Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, fails to capture General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia before they slip back into the Virginia wilderness. Now political pressure is mounting on Lincoln with Northern Democrats and Copperheads pushing him to make peace with the Confederacy. Combined with the growing number of Union causalities, New York Draft Riots, and a mix of results in the West, Lincoln is faced with the possibility of a divided nation and the continuation of slavery in North America for generations to come. The wartime stakes could never be higher!

It is March 1864, and President Lincoln is concerned. The first real victory in the East -- The Battle of Gettysburg -- is short-lived when General George Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac, fails to capture General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia before they slip back into the Virginia wilderness. Now political pressure is mounting on Lincoln with Northern Democrats and Copperheads pushing him to make peace with the Confederacy. Combined with the growing number of Union causalities, New York Draft Riots, and a mix of results in the West, Lincoln is faced with the possibility of a divided nation and the continuation of slavery in North America for generations to come. The wartime stakes could never be higher!

Introducing War Yankee - Overland, my American Civil War history podcast that follows General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac on its 47-day, 113-mile military campaign south from Culpeper to Petersburg, Virginia.

Introducing War Yankee - Overland, my American Civil War history podcast that follows General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac on its 47-day, 113-mile military campaign south from Culpeper to Petersburg, Virginia.

War Yankee - Overland Overland.12: Running in Circles

Discover the first events that push the Army of the Potomac through The Wilderness and into the teeth of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

Overview

The Army of the Potomac has captured the Brock Road Intersection with Orange Plank Road, has discovered Confederate cavalry probing their left flank along the Catharpin Road, and now must deal with the growing threat of Rebels digging in along the Orange Turnpike. After waiting for hours for Meade to stop talking about attacking, and actually attack, Grant has had enough. But will he intervene in time to win his first battle against Lee?

Quotes

"If [this] is what Meade meant by attacking 'at once', as he said he would at 7:30 AM (it's now after 10:00 AM) no wonder Lee was running circles around him."
-- Gordon Rhea, Battle of the Wilderness

"The only time I ever feel impatient is when I give an order for an important movement of troops in the presence of the enemy and am waiting for them to reach their destination. Then the minutes seem like hours."
-- Grant's comment to Porter, from Hell Itself by Chris Mackowski

Support the War Yankee Podcast

Every episode is a work of passion that requires a lot of coffee. I research, read, visit, host, mix, edit, and produce every episode myself. I would greatly appreciate it if you could do two things for me:

1. Send me a quick note of encouragement at [email protected]. This keeps me going when times get tough!

2. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)!

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The American Battlefield Trust knows that there is no substitute for experiencing history in the places where it actually took place and has worked to become the only national organization working to save America's historic battlefields today and discover how you can help preserve American history forever. Join me in the fight to save our nation's historic battlefields by visiting the American Battlefield Trust website at battlefields.org.

War Yankee Telegraph Department

• Email Us: THE waryankee AT GMAIL DOT com
• All our Show Notes: waryankee.com
• Notable Resources: waryankee.com/resources/
• Buy Me a Coffee - Support the Show
• Good Maps: Union Army Actions in The Wilderness (May 5th, 1864)
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• War Yankee - Overland
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War Yankee is a Gagglepod Production. Learn more at gagglepod.com.

 

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War Yankee - Telegraph Texas or Bust

Kyle Bondo talks about his upcoming move to Texas and teases out the next episodes of War Yankee coming on November 10th, 2021.

Support the War Yankee Podcast

Every episode is a work of passion that requires a lot of coffee. I research, read, visit, host, mix, edit, and produce every episode myself. I would greatly appreciate it if you could do two things for me:

1. Send me a quick note of encouragement at [email protected]. This keeps me going when times get tough!

2. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)!

About War Yankee - Overland

An American Civil War history podcast hosted by Kyle M. Bondo that follows the Overland Campaign led by General Ulysses S. Grant as he drives the Army of the Potomac on its 47-day, 113-mile military campaign South against the Confederacy in 1864.

Quotes

"Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, you may win Southern independence if God be not against you, but I doubt it. I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South."
-- Sam Houston, after refusing to swear an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy to which the legislature of Texas declared his governorship vacant, February/March 1861.

War Yankee Telegraph Department

• Email Us: THE War Yankee AT GMAIL DOT com
• All our Show Notes: waryankee.com
• Notable Resources: waryankee.com/resources/
• All our Episodes: waryankee.libsyn.com
• War Yankee - Overland!
• Gagglepod - Until Every Story is Told!

War Yankee is a Gagglepod Production. Learn more at gagglepod.com.