Editing Battle of the Wilderness (section)

===Grant's plan===
Grant's plan for Meade's Army of the Potomac was to move south to confront Lee's army between the Union and Confederate capital cities, [[Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War|Washington]] and [[Richmond in the American Civil War|Richmond]].<ref name="Chernow357"/> At the same time, General [[Benjamin Butler]]'s [[Army of the James]] would approach Richmond, [[Petersburg, Virginia#American Civil War|Petersburg]], and Lee from the southeast near the [[James River]]. Major General [[Franz Sigel]]'s [[Union Army of the Shenandoah|Army of the Shenandoah]] would move through the [[Shenandoah Valley]] and destroy the [[Virginia Central Railroad#Civil War|rail line]], agricultural infrastructure, and [[Granary|granaries]] used to feed the Confederate armies.<ref name="Chernow357"/> Brigadier generals [[George Crook]] and [[William W. Averell]] would attack the [[Virginia and Tennessee Railroad]], and [[Salt in the American Civil War|salt]] and lead mines, in western Virginia before moving east to join Sigel.<ref name="Hogan11-12">{{harvnb|Hogan|2014|pp=11–12}}</ref> Sherman would attack [[Georgia in the American Civil War|Georgia]] with the similar goal of destroying rail lines, resources, and infrastructure used to equip and feed the Confederate armies.<ref name="Chernow357"/>{{#tag:ref|Grant's plan was not solely focused on the Army of Northern Virginia. Johnston's Army of Tennessee was a target for Sherman in Georgia.<ref name="Gallagher6">{{harvnb|Simpson|1997|p=6}}</ref> Major General [[Nathaniel P. Banks]] would fight for the Union in the west where Grant hoped he could capture the important [[Gulf of Mexico]] port at [[Mobile, Alabama in the American Civil War|Mobile, Alabama]].<ref name="Chernow357"/><ref name="ABTMobileBay">{{cite web |title=Mobile Bay |publisher=American Battlefield Trust |url=https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/mobile-bay |access-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925221534/https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/mobile-bay |url-status=live}}</ref>
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Grant's campaign objective of the destruction of Lee's army coincided with the preferences of both Lincoln and his military [[chief of staff]], [[Henry Halleck]].<ref name="Gallagher6"/> Grant instructed Meade, "Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also."<ref name="Gallagher7">{{harvnb|Simpson|1997|p=7}}</ref> Although he hoped for a quick, decisive battle, Grant was prepared to fight a [[attrition warfare|war of attrition]].<ref name="Scott1891b-12-13">{{harvnb|Scott|1891b|pp=12–13}}</ref><!--Rhea p.46--> Both the Union and Confederate casualties could be high, but the Union had greater resources to replace lost soldiers and equipment. By May 2, Grant had four [[Corps#American Civil War|corps]] positioned to begin Meade's portion of Grant's plan against Lee's army. Three of the corps, plus cavalry, composed Meade's Army of the Potomac. A fourth corps, reporting directly to Grant, added additional firepower. The [[Rapidan River]] divided the two foes.<ref name="Rhea23">{{harvnb|Rhea|2004|p=23}}</ref> A few days later, Grant and Meade would cross the river and begin what became known as the [[Overland Campaign]], and the Battle of the Wilderness was its first battle.<ref name="NPSOverland">{{cite web |title=Ulysses S. Grant's Path to Victory: The 1864 Overland Campaign |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/ulysses-s-grant-s-path-to-victory-the-1864-overland-campaign.htm |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205227/https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/ulysses-s-grant-s-path-to-victory-the-1864-overland-campaign.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The other armies that were part of Grant's plan had mixed results. Sigel was defeated at the [[Battle of New Market]] on May 15.<ref name="Chernow397">{{harvnb|Chernow|2017|p=397}}</ref> Sherman won the [[Battle of Atlanta]] on July 22.<ref name="Eicher709-710">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|pp=709–710}}</ref> He continued his destruction of Confederate infrastructure in November in what became known as [[Sherman's March to the Sea]].<ref name="Eicher761">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|p=761}}</ref> Butler's [[Bermuda Hundred campaign]] along the James River near Richmond was a failure, although his forces would eventually be used in the [[Siege of Petersburg]], which lasted from June until late March 1865.<ref name="Eicher680">{{harvnb|Eicher|2001|p=680}}</ref><ref name="NPSSiege">{{cite web |title=The Siege of Petersburg |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior |url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/civil_war_series/20/sec1.htm |access-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121182930/https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/civil_war_series/20/sec1.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Major General [[Philip Sheridan]], with Crook and Averell as part of his army, would eventually inflict damage on the Shenandoah Valley with victories at [[Third Battle of Winchester|Winchester]], [[Battle of Fisher's Hill|Fisher's Hill]], and [[Battle of Cedar Creek|Cedar Creek]]—occurring in September and October 1864.<ref name="Starr279-280">{{harvnb|Starr|2007|pp=279–280}}</ref><ref name="Starr320">{{harvnb|Starr|2007|p=320}}</ref> Johnston's Army of Tennessee surrendered to Sherman in [[North Carolina in the American Civil War|North Carolina]] on April 26, 1865.<ref name="Chernow533-536">{{harvnb|Chernow|2017|pp=533–536}}</ref>|group=Note}}