War Yankee - Overland

In This Episode
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.

Notable Quotes
"The Army of the Potomac is in splendid condition and evidently feels like whipping somebody; I feel much better with this command than I did before seeing it.”
— Lt.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant

“Probably no army on earth every before was in better condition in every respect.”
— Brig.Gen. Rufus Ingalls, Quartermaster General, Army of the Potomac

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: First, COFFEE! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)! Second, FEEDBACK! Please give this podcast a rating and review to let me know what you liked, what I can improve on, or that you're enjoying the show. Meanwhile, thank you for taking the time to listen. You are appreciated!

War Yankee Supports ABT

American Battlefield Trust knows that there is no substitute for experiencing history in the places where it took place and has worked to become the only national organization working to save America's historic battlefields today. 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.

In This Episode
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!

Notable Quotes
"Well, I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals."
-- President Abraham Lincoln

"All [President Lincoln] wanted or had ever wanted was someone who would take the responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance needed, pledging himself to use all the power of government in rendering such assistance."
-- Ulysses S. Grant, from his memoir recalling the first private interview with President Lincoln

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: First, COFFEE! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)! Second, FEEDBACK! Please give this podcast a rating and review to let me know what you liked, what I can improve on, or that you're enjoying the show. Meanwhile, thank you for taking the time to listen. You are appreciated!

War Yankee Supports ABT

American Battlefield Trust knows that there is no substitute for experiencing history in the places where it took place and has worked to become the only national organization working to save America's historic battlefields today. 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.

In This Episode
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!

Notable Quotes
"I can't spare this man–he fights."
-- President Abraham Lincoln after Grant falters during the first day of the Battle of Shiloh, April 1862

"My personal relations with him were as close and intimate as the nature of our respective duties would permit... [To] know him personally was to love and respect him for his great qualities of heart and head, and for his patience and patriotism."
-- Lt.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on being a "Lincoln Man"

"I think it was Grant’s aggressive, fighting spirit that endeared him to Lincoln. Too many of Lincoln’s generals were quick to scapegoat him for their failures, whereas Grant, as a matter of both pride and honesty, never blamed the president.”
--Ron Chernow, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Grant

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: First, COFFEE! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)! Second, FEEDBACK! Please give this podcast a rating and review to let me know what you liked, what I can improve on, or that you're enjoying the show. Meanwhile, thank you for taking the time to listen. You are appreciated!

War Yankee Supports ABT

American Battlefield Trust knows that there is no substitute for experiencing history in the places where it took place and has worked to become the only national organization working to save America's historic battlefields today. 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.

In This Episode
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.

This is the first episode in this War Yankee series and begins by setting some expectations. You may be asking yourself: - Who is the War Yankee, why the Overland Campaign, and why are you starting in the middle of the Civil War? To answer these questions, I begin with some background about myself and my family history, which will provide context for my perspective on the American Civil War and the focus of War Yankee.

Notable Quotes
"That Grant, he was the only War Yankee Lincoln had that was worth anything."
-- Grandpa

"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."
-- President Abraham Lincoln, From the Gettysburg Address

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: First, COFFEE! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting the show by buying me a cup of coffee (or two)! Second, FEEDBACK! Please give this podcast a rating and review to let me know what you liked, what I can improve on, or that you're enjoying the show. Meanwhile, thank you for taking the time to listen. You are appreciated!

War Yankee Supports ABT
American Battlefield Trust knows that there is no substitute for experiencing history in the places where it took place and has worked to become the only national organization working to save America's historic battlefields today. 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.