Background
The spring of 1864 saw the Army of the Potomac essentially in the same place as the previous two years. After ditching several leaders President Lincoln brought a new face to Washington to oversee the operations of the Union armies. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, fresh from several impressive victories in the west, was named general-in-chief for the upcoming campaign season. Unwilling to remain in the pomp and circumstance of the capital, he attached himself to the Army of the Potomac with a promise not to interfere with Major General George G. Meade's handling of the army. It was a promise that soon died as Grant quickly took over ordering the movements of the army. The difficult command situation irritated the quick tempered Meade, who thought of resigning but was convinced to remain on.
As travel conditions improved under the spring sun Grant planned a series of movements to put maximum pressure on the Confederates in every theater of the conflict. Sherman in the west, Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley and Butler in the Bermuda Hundred would all launch offensive operations to support his efforts to defeat the fabled Robert E. Lee in Virginia. After another brief weather related delay his move across the Rapidan River began on May 3rd. Lee countered with a bold strike at Grant's host in an area known as the Wilderness Two days of bloody combat convinced Grant that maneuver around the Confederate right was the best option and struck out for Spotsylvania Court House. Lee, wise to the move, won the race and established a strong defense and awaited the arrival of Grant's army. For six days the two sides battled each other in some of the most horrific fighting of the war. After finally collapsing the enemy salient at the Mule Shoe Grant faced yet another struggle against the entrenched enemy along the Ni River. The efforts there were again thwarted by Lee's well planned counter moves and more deadly fighting.
Roughly two weeks of gruesome warfare had left both sides badly damaged by severe casualties. The strain of constant contact with the enemy had a telling effect on the command structure of both armies, especially in the loss of key leaders. Relationships in the top level of command in the Union forces became particularly frayed between Meade and the commander of the Union cavalry arm, Major General Philip H. Sheridan. Meade felt that the cavalry had let him down in the Wilderness and Spotsylvania and had divided them up on various tasks. Sheridan chafed at being micromanaged and on May 8th burst into Meade's headquarters and the two engaged in a heated argument. Sheridan finally stormed out in a snit. Recounting the conversation with Grant, Meade stated that Sheridan wanted to assemble his cavalry and move on to defeat the Confederate cavalry leader, Major General James E. B. Stuart. Grant, anxious for a victory took the offer seriously and told Meade if Sheridan thinks he can do it "let him start right out and do it."
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