On February 4, 1865, Grant and Meade developed their next Petersburg Offensive. This was just the day after the Peace Conference on the "River Queen" where Lincoln and Seward had met with representatives from Richmond. The negotiations quickly broke down - the war would continue.
As the Confederate envoys made their way back to Richmond, Grant was planning his next offensive.
I posted an article about this planning recently and have reposted it here for the anniversary.
emergingcivilwar.com
The exchange of dispatches between Grant and Meade on February 4, gives an insight into their relationship. In brief, around noon, Grant ordered Meade to send his cavalry division on a raid to Belfield (40 miles south of Petersburg) to disrupt or destroy a Confederate supply route. Meade could have blindly obeyed the order. This would fit with stereotypes of Meade being just a puppet commander as the overseeing Grant pulled the strings. Instead, after some consideration, a few hours later, Meade replied to Grant, pointing out some flaws in the plan and suggesting an alternative strategy. This doesn't seem like the actions of a downtrodden commander. Similarly, Grant's response is illuminating. He doesn't get huffy and insist that Meade carries out his orders. Other generals may have viewed Meade's response as insubordination, blatantly challenging a superior's orders. Rather, Grant quickly accepts Meade's opinions and agrees to his counterproposal of a raid to Dinwiddie Court House. I think that it is noteworthy that Grant ended his reply by asking when Meade would start out. Keen for some activity, after about 6 weeks of inactivity around Petersburg.
So I thought that I would share the anniversary. I will create a post tomorrow to mark what happened on day one of the mission.
As the Confederate envoys made their way back to Richmond, Grant was planning his next offensive.
I posted an article about this planning recently and have reposted it here for the anniversary.
February 1865: When Grant Just Wanted to Do Something - Emerging Civil War
Emerging Civil War welcomes back guest author Nigel Lambert. As 1865 dawned, Union commander-in-chief Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had reasons for optimism. Major General William T. Sherman’s army prepared to march northward through South Carolina. Federal troops had crushed Confederate forces in...
emergingcivilwar.com
The exchange of dispatches between Grant and Meade on February 4, gives an insight into their relationship. In brief, around noon, Grant ordered Meade to send his cavalry division on a raid to Belfield (40 miles south of Petersburg) to disrupt or destroy a Confederate supply route. Meade could have blindly obeyed the order. This would fit with stereotypes of Meade being just a puppet commander as the overseeing Grant pulled the strings. Instead, after some consideration, a few hours later, Meade replied to Grant, pointing out some flaws in the plan and suggesting an alternative strategy. This doesn't seem like the actions of a downtrodden commander. Similarly, Grant's response is illuminating. He doesn't get huffy and insist that Meade carries out his orders. Other generals may have viewed Meade's response as insubordination, blatantly challenging a superior's orders. Rather, Grant quickly accepts Meade's opinions and agrees to his counterproposal of a raid to Dinwiddie Court House. I think that it is noteworthy that Grant ended his reply by asking when Meade would start out. Keen for some activity, after about 6 weeks of inactivity around Petersburg.
So I thought that I would share the anniversary. I will create a post tomorrow to mark what happened on day one of the mission.
Bringing the