AOP: 10 month gap between Gettysbug and Overland

[samvit]

Can't believe I didn't realize this before, but after Gettysburg in July of 1863 until the launch of Overland in May of 1864, a ten month period, it seems there were no major battles for the AOP, at least compared to the previous year. From July of 1862 to May of 1863 there were the following battles: Peninsular Campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville.

Regarding the aftermath of Gettysburg, here's some info. from wikipedia:

For the remainder of the fall campaigning season in 1863, during both the Bristoe CampaignMine Run Campaign, Meade was outmaneuvered by Lee and withdrew after fighting minor, inconclusive battles, because of his reluctance to attack entrenched positions.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Meade#cite_note-12

So I'm guessing the mindset of Lincoln was something like this? Let's see what Meade can do, and after Meade showed a general lack of aggressiveness in the Fall, it was best to wait through the winter before launching another major campaign with another commander. Perhaps Burnside's fiasco at Fredericksburg in the Winter of 1862 had something to do with Lincoln holding off until the Spring?

 

[trice]

Can't believe I didn't realize this before, but after Gettysburg in July of 1863 until the launch of Overland in May of 1864, a ten month period, it seems there were no major battles for the AOP, at least compared to the previous year. From July of 1862 to May of 1863 there were the following battles: Peninsular Campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville.

Regarding the aftermath of Gettysburg, here's some info. from wikipedia:

For the remainder of the fall campaigning season in 1863, during both the Bristoe CampaignMine Run Campaign, Meade was outmaneuvered by Lee and withdrew after fighting minor, inconclusive battles, because of his reluctance to attack entrenched positions.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Meade#cite_note-12

So I'm guessing the mindset of Lincoln was something like this? Let's see what Meade can do, and after Meade showed a general lack of aggressiveness in the Fall, it was best to wait through the winter before launching another major campaign with another commander. Perhaps Burnside's fiasco at Fredericksburg in the Winter of 1862 had something to do with Lincoln holding off until the Spring?

In September, you have the Rosecrans disaster at Chickamauga. Hooker is sent to Tennessee with two Corps from the Army of the Potomac, and Lee has already sent Longstreet to join Bragg before that. The two armies were down in strength and recovering as a result.

Tim

 

[Old Hickory]

Going by memory here, correct me if I'm wrong. 11th & 12th corps sent south late summer 1863, 1st & 3rd corps so depleted they were rolled into the 5th corps by Meads order in March 1864.

 

[1SGDan]

There were two campaigns conducted around the Rappahannock and Rapidan River during this time period. The largest battles fought in these were Paynes Farm and Bristoe Station.

 

[1SGDan]

Meade was outmaneuvered by Lee and withdrew after fighting minor, inconclusive battles, because of his reluctance to attack entrenched positions.

Actually the opposite was true. Lee was denied his goal by Meade's rapid manuevering.

 

[matthew mckeon]

Meade was outmaneuvered by Lee and withdrew after fighting minor, inconclusive battles, because of his reluctance to attack entrenched positions.

Actually the opposite was true. Lee was denied his goal by Meade's rapid manuevering.

I'm not familiar with these campaigns. What were the goals of both Lee and Meade?

 

[1SGDan]

I will be presenting a run down on the Bristoe Campaign shortly. The Mine Run Campaign synopsis is already available on the Eastern Theater forum.

 

[samvit]

I will be presenting a run down on the Bristoe Campaign shortly. The Mine Run Campaign synopsis is already available on the Eastern Theater forum.

Could you point me to that? I did a search but was unable to locate it. Thanks.

 

[1SGDan]

Could you point me to that? I did a search but was unable to locate it. Thanks.

Go to page 3 of the eastern theater forum. The Mine Run Campaign by 1sgdan is there complete with some excellent pictures of the battlefields graciously posted by prroh.

 

[whitworth]

Things to remember

The Confederacy, by this time, had lost the war for a thirteen state independent nation. Hope was reduced to many fewer states, more clearly seen by the U.S, at this time.
Lee was now on the complete defensive, except for small forays. Lee was an expert at defensive war at the time. And the northern generals knew the damage of direct assaults on short defensive lines. High prices were exacted. Even an aggressive Grant had finally had to go into siege warfare to defeat the ANV.

Lee would exact a heavy price. But in the end, defeat for the ANV was more probable, once Lee was so shattered at Gettysburg.

 

[1SGDan]

Lee was now on the complete defensive


Actually, the Bristoe Campaign was Lee's last offensive effort.