What can be said of the Confederate army during the Wilderness Campaign?

1 Answer
Mar 19, 2018

The Confederate Army was winning all the battle and losing the war.

Explanation:

The south won every battle in the Wilderness Campaign. Some like Cold Harbor were decisive battles with the Union losing far more men than the south. After every battle the north retreated leaving the south in control of the battlefield.

The problem for the south was after every battle the south had fewer men and supplies. The south because of the Anaconda plan, blockades, and Union control of the Mississippi River could not replace those loses. The Northern army had no lack of supplies and the manpower loses could be made up with new recuites of immigrants and freed slaves.

After every battle the north retreated from the battlefield but then swung around and drove deeper into southern territory. (This strategy of Grant's was different from previous generals that after a battle would retreat back to Washington) The Northern retreat and advance finally reached Petersburg near Richmond.

At Petersburg the depleted Confederate Army was pinned into a defensive position and a war of attrition that it could not win. The Wilderness Campaign resulted in major Confederate victories on the battle field and the resulting loss of the war