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Overland Campaign (1864)
Main article: Overland Campaign
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Confederate General John Brown Gordon declared to General Lee after the Wilderness that there was “no doubt that Grant is retreating.” Lee replied, “You are mistaken, quite mistaken. Grant is not retreating. He is not a retreating man."[230]

The Overland Campaign was a series of brutal battles fought in Virginia for seven weeks during May and June 1864.[231] Sigel's and Butler's efforts failed, and Grant was left alone to fight Lee.[232] On the morning of Wednesday, May 4, Grant dressed in full uniform, sword at his side, led the army out from his headquarters at Culpeper towards Germanna Ford.[233] They crossed the Rapidan unopposed, while supplies were transported on four pontoon bridges.[234] On May 5, the Union army attacked Lee in the Wilderness, a three-day battle with estimated casualties of 17,666 Union and 11,125 Confederate.