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Lee and Grant in the Wilderness.
Of the many officers of distinction in the
Union army, to independent and separate commands were intrusted, in the popular opinion of the
North,
General Grant was regarded as the most successful, and in abilities the ablest; and for services rendered rewarded, both by Congress and the
President, in a manner leaving no doubt as to the high appreciation in which they were held.
He was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general, and assigned, on the 10th of March, 1864, by
President Lincoln, to the command of the armies of the
United States.
This order placed, subject to his will, more armed men than any general of modern times ever commanded.
The object to be accomplished by this law of Congress, and order of the
President, concentrating the whole military power of the
North in one officer, was the speedy overthrow of the Southern Confederacy, and the subjugation of its people.
To effect this,
Richmond must be taken; but preliminary to this, the Army of Northern Virginia must be either destroyed or captured.
The annihilation of this army, the main support of the. Confederacy, was esteemed by
General Grant as his especial privilege, as it was his duty; and to facilitate this, he established his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac; so that, while giving a general supervision to other armies, he could personally control and direct the movements of this particular one, charged, in his opinion, with the highest mission.
The reputation of
General Grant, before serving in
Virginia, was due mostly to the capture of
Fort Donelson and
Vicksburg; and while, in a strictly military point of view, neither can be
