- May through June the armies fought in Northern and Central Virginia.
- WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN- A series of battles designed to capture the confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia.
- The first battle was in early may in woods about 50 miles from Richmond.
- Grant ordered General Meade to Spotsylvania where the fighting lasted for about five days.
- Over the next few weeks the Union forces moved the Confederate troops back near Richmond.
- Grant experienced his worst battle about 10 miles from Richmond.
- The Union suffered just as many casualties as the Confederates yet Grant continued with his strategy.
- Grant slowly advanced his troops through Virginia.
- After cold harbor Grant moved south of Richmond hoping to take control of the key railroad junction at Peters-burg Virginia.
- However Lees army formed a solid defense and Grant could no longer execute his attack.