Publisher's Synopsis
In May 1864 Grant sent all his armies rolling forward. He moved aggressively against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in what became known as the Overland Campaign. Another movement moving up the Shenandoah Valley destroying Lee's food and war supplies was soundly beaten at New Market.
Frustrated in his own campaign and unable to defeat Robert E. Lee, Grant renewed the push up the Valley, expanding its role to include a raid cutting off Lee's supply lines at Lynchburg. He hoped the raid would force Lee to abandon his positions to save his army. Grant agreed to give Lincoln's abolitionist friend Major General David Hunter the chance to seek glory in command of this expedition. Two weeks later, well after Hunter was no longer in touch with his base, and almost as an afterthought, Grant added to this thrust a raid by Sheridan's cavalry across the Piedmont to assist in this destruction. Given known Confederate available military resources in the area the plan appeared to be foolproof.
