Why did Grant decide not to return to Washington but to instead continue attacking Lee after the Battle of the Wilderness?
1 Answer
Grant's understanding of strategic situation caused him to continue to attack Lee in order to bring the war to an end.
Explanation:
Lee had a brilliant understanding of tactics. Lee would win a battle against the army of Potomac. The northern armies would retreat and return to Washington. This would give Lee time to resupply and reinforce his army.
Grant would lose battles against Lee in the wilderness but the North had more troops and supplies and could afford to lose battles. The south could not afford to lose troops. Every victory in the wilderness left the Army of Northern Virginia weaker.
Grant's strategic vision was to wear down the Army of Northern Virginia to the point where the Army could no longer fight.
The earlier northern generals vision was to take Richmond the capital of the Confederacy. Grant's vision was to defeat general Lee.
Grant's advances after each battle in the wilderness left Lee's armies pinned down at Petersburg. With his army pinned down Lee's tactical abilities could be not used.
Grant could now wage a war of attrition against the Army of Northern Virginia. A war of attrition was a war the Confederacy could not win.
