Overland Campaign Events Timeline (May 4th

UNION STRATEGIC VICTORY

COMMAND(S):
Ulysses S. Grant

ARMY FORCE(S):
Army of the Potomac; IX Corps; XVII Corps

STRENGTH:
120,000 men

CASUALTIES*:
54,926 men (45.8%)

* Includes killed, wounded, and missing.

COMMAND(S):
Robert E. Lee

ARMY FORCE(S):
Army of Northern Virginia

STRENGTH:
63,000 men

CASUALTIES*:
32,500 men (51.6%)

* Includes killed, wounded, and missing.

Force Strength

Casualties Comparison

Day-by-Day Timeline of Events

May 5, 1864

The Battle of the Wilderness takes place across Spotsylvania and Orange counties in Virginia. Generals Ulysses Grant and George Meade face-off against Robert E. Lee. Strength includes 124,232 for the Union and about 65,000 for the Confederacy.

May 6, 1864

Confederate General Micah Jenkins is killed by friendly fire during the Battle of the Wilderness.

May 6, 1864

Confederate General James Longstreet is seriously wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness by friendly fire.

May 7, 1864

The Battle of the Wilderness comes to an end as an inconclusive engagement. Losses and casualties for the Union number 17,666 and the Confederate totals 11,033.

May 8, 1864

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House begins. Union Generals Grant and Meade square off, once again, against Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The action takes place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Union forces number as many as 110,000 against a Confederate army of 63,000.

May 11, 1864

The Battle of Yellow Tavern is had in Hanover County, Virginia. It is a Union victory for General Sheridan and a loss for the combined forces of Confederate Generals Jeb Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee. Numbers are 12,000 for the victors and 5,000 for the defeated. Casualties number 625 and 300 respectively.

May 12, 1864

The Battle of Meadow Bridge takes place and is a Union victory as part of the Overland Campaign. General Sheridan is victorious over generals Fitzhugh Lee and James Gordon.

May 12, 1864

Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, aged 31, dies of wounds suffered at the Battle of Yellow Tavern the day before.

May 20, 1864

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House concludes as a Confederate tactical victory. General Lee takes the credit over Union leaders General Grant and Meade. Casualties and losses number 12,687 for the victors and 18,399 for the defeated.

May 23, 1864

The Battle of North Anna begins spanning Caroline and Hanover counties in Virginia. Union forces are led by Ulysses Grant and George Meade against Robert E. Lee and the outnumbered Confederate army (Army of Northern Virginia).

May 24, 1864

The Battle of Wilson's Wharf is fought. It is a Union victory at Charles City, Virginia. General Edward Wild claims the victory over General Fitzhugh Lee.

May 26, 1864

The Battle of North Anna ends with inconclusive results as neither side gains the advantage.

May 28, 1864

The Battle of Haw's Shop takes place on this date. It is inconclusive. The 4,000-strong Union force is led by General David Gregg against the 4,500 Confederates under the leadership of General Wade Hampton.

May 28, 1864

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek begins.

May 30, 1864

The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek is inconclusive.

May 30, 1864

The Battle of Old Church takes place. It is a Union victory for General Alfred Torbert.

May 31, 1864

The Battle of Cold Harbor begins as part of the Overland Campaign. Union forces number over 100,000 and are led by generals Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. They face a Confederate army numbering around 60,000 and are led by General Robert E. Lee.

June 12, 1864

The Battle of Cold Harbor ends as a much-needed Confederate victory for General Robert E. Lee. Frontal assaults against fortified Confederate positions mar the Union advance which leads to thousands of casualties.

June 24, 1864

The Battle of Saint Mary's Church takes place as part of the Overland Campaign. It is inconclusive.

Overland Campaign Events Timeline (May 4th - June 24th, 1864)

The Union moved into Virginia spurred a series of battles involving generals Grant, Meade and Lee under the Overland Campaign name.