[235]
Rather than retreat, Grant flanked Lee's army to the southeast and attempted to wedge his forces between Lee and Richmond at Spotsylvania Court House.[236] Lee's army got to Spotsylvania first and a costly battle ensued, lasting thirteen days, with heavy casualties.[237] On May 12, Grant attempted to break through Lee's Muleshoe salient guarded by Confederate artillery, resulting in one of the bloodiest assaults of the Civil War, known as the Bloody Angle.[238] Unable to break Lee's lines, Grant again flanked the rebels to the southeast, meeting at North Anna, where a battle lasted three days.[239]

Commanding General Grant at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1864
Cold Harbor
Main article: Battle of Cold Harbor
Grant believed breaking through Lee's lines at its weakest point, Cold Harbor, a vital road hub that linked to Richmond, would mean the destruction of Lee's army, the capture of Richmond, and a quick end to the rebellion.[240] Grant already had two corps in position at Cold Harbor with Hancock's corps on the way.[241] The recent bloody Wilderness campaign had severely diminished Confederate morale and hence Grant was now willing to advance on Lee's army once again.