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Attrition.
He knew the Confederates were running out of manpower. So he simply ended prisoner exchange, and then just battered away at Lee's lines till they were too thin to hold.
It meant terrible casualties on both sides, and truly appalling conditions in the overcrowded prison camps.
But it brought victory.
Pure attrition.
He kept Lee pinned down at Petersburg, where he would not be able to execute any of his famous lightning thrusts, and then just waited for the Confederates to run out of manpower.
It went on for nearly ten months, and the Northern public did not feel that anything was being achieved in exchange for these shocking casualties. This would have cost Lincoln the election of '64, had it not been for some timely victories by Sheridan, Sherman and Admiral Farragut.
Based on the ways that US Civil Wars were fought, very few of them resulted in the destruction of an entire army. This was true with both Union and Confederate victories. Two of many reasons for this was the fact that both sides' armies were commanded by men who were West Point graduates. They either knew each other from West Point or fought with them in the Mexican War. To a certain degree, this allowed the generals to gage the types of reactions the enemy forces to various military situations. The phrase " to a certain degree" is important to note.
Here are two examples that demonstrate how the annihilation of a losing army was impossible.
This idea refers to major field battles. With that said, the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg were major conflicts resulting in huge numbers of dead and wounded. Yet even the South, with a much smaller recruiting base, was able to continue on and fight again in other major battles. This fact brings us to what US Grant realized and why he eventually turned his strategy to one commonly used in military terms as a strategy of of "exhaustion".
Although casualty rates continued to be high, Grant's main focus was, in many cases to attack an opposing army's logistics. Meaning its routes of communications and military supplies including weapons and food.
The success of this in seen at Vicksburg, Atlanta and Petersburg.
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What strategy did George Kennan propose to use against the Soviet union?
containment
What strategy did union troops use at the Battle of petersburg?
Simple attrition. Grant had ended the system of prisoner exchange, so the Confederates were bound to run out of men first. Then he simply battered away at Lee's army till his lines grew too thin to hold.
What military strategy did Germany use in the battle against France in World War 2?
Germany strategy during the first and second world war was strategic bombing, use of chemical weapons and the massacre of civilians capable of fighting against them.
Which military strategy did the US use against the Japanese during World War 2?
Island Hopping
What was the war strategy of the south in the Civil War?
The south tried to fight a defensive strategy for most of the war (due to the fact that they were succeeding and Lincoln knew he had to use force to get the south back on to the union again). But general Lee thought if he could make it to D.C. he could make Lincoln sue for peace. Lee drove an army through the northern states until the faithful battle of Gettysburg which had tremendous southern casualties which caused Lee to retreat to the south. Lincoln knew lee was weak so he ordered the union army to send the army on a full frontal assault on the south. Which caused Lee to fight defensive strategy like he did in the begging of the war.
What strategy did FDR use against aggressor nations?
Quarantine
What strategy did the US use against the Japanese?
island hopping
Why did Lieutenant General US Grant believe he could defeat General Lee using exterior lines?
General US Grant's initial tactics relied on the use of exterior lines. Generally speaking, exterior lines are at a disadvantage, especially against a general of the caliber of Robert E. Lee who had positions of interior lines. Military theory at the time, 1864, allowed Grant to explore the viability of his offensive based on the fact of his numerical superiority. As Grant's offensive began operations his armies numbering 118,000 troops had a distinct advantage of Lee's forces of only 64,000.
What was battle of the wilderness about?
It was the opening battle in Grant's Overland campaign against Lee in May 1864. Grant was hoping to fight in open country, where he could use his advantage in artillery. But Lee decided to pounce at once, when they were in thick woodland, which caught fire, suffocating large numbers. The Union were defeated, but did not retreat. They followed Lee and eventually cornered him at Petersburg, where they besieged him for ten months until he simply ran out of manpower and supplies.
What strategy did George Kennan propose to use against the Soviet union?
containment
What strategy did union troops use at the Battle of petersburg?
Simple attrition. Grant had ended the system of prisoner exchange, so the Confederates were bound to run out of men first. Then he simply battered away at Lee's army till his lines grew too thin to hold.
What strategy did Germany use against Great Britain in 1915?
unrestricted submarine warfare
What were two significant tactical features of the US Civil War Overland campaign?
The Overland campaign initiated by Union General US Grant was a revealing one in terms of the losses Grant was willing to have in his battles in Virginia against the Army of Northern Virginia. Two tactical measures are significant. One was the tactic by Grant to keep his forces close to those of Lee's. This allowed for, in theory, to keep tabs on Lee's forces. ( it failed ) the second feature was a tactic used by both sides. That tactic was the extensive use of fortifications as a defensive method reduce losses. That failed on Grant's side but succeeded on Lee's side.
What military strategy did Germany use in the battle against France in World War 2?
Germany strategy during the first and second world war was strategic bombing, use of chemical weapons and the massacre of civilians capable of fighting against them.
Which military strategy did the US use against the Japanese during World War 2?
Island Hopping
What was the war strategy of the south in the Civil War?
The south tried to fight a defensive strategy for most of the war (due to the fact that they were succeeding and Lincoln knew he had to use force to get the south back on to the union again). But general Lee thought if he could make it to D.C. he could make Lincoln sue for peace. Lee drove an army through the northern states until the faithful battle of Gettysburg which had tremendous southern casualties which caused Lee to retreat to the south. Lincoln knew lee was weak so he ordered the union army to send the army on a full frontal assault on the south. Which caused Lee to fight defensive strategy like he did in the begging of the war.
What caused Confederate general to often use an operational strategy best known as the Fabian strategy?
General Lee was well aware of the numerical superiority of the Union forces. For the most part, Lee wanted to avoid major battles with the North. Lee made exceptions to this at times, and did use offensive strategies. Lee's goal however, was not to "conquer the North" but to prolong the war as long as possible. This was the Confederate goal for independence. Develop public opinion in the North to tire of the war, and settle for the succession of the South.
