Grant and Sherman, who has already been mentioned, but also Lee. Lee understood from the beginning that the south needed foreign recognition. He knew the south was at a disadvantage. Other Confederate generals thought the fighting spirit of the southern soldier/people would ultimately bring victory, and thus crush the northern will. Although Lee did not engage in "total war" he understood the window for the Confederacy to obtain independence was narrow and closing fast. Even from his letters prior to him taking command, he writes about not wanting war. He knew what awaited the south down the road and understood how the lack of men and material would affect the armies. Some southern politicians and generals were blinded by their will to achieve victory, Lee was not. He resisted war until it was his only course. Then when it began, he was all in, still knowing the odds were stacked against him. He even says in his famous quote how terrible war is. Grant knew the southern armies needed to be beaten into submission... that small victories here and there would not be enough. Lee understood this as well. While other generals were concentrated on Richmond, Grant knew the war would not end until Lee's army was destroyed. Grant began his flanking maneuvers to get around Lee's right. Once this began, Lee knew what the end result would be:
"We must destroy this Army of Grant's before he gets to the James River. If he gets there it will become a siege and then it will be a mere question of time,"
- Gen. R.E. Lee