Module 5 of The West Point History of the Civil War (Enhanced Edition‪)‬

Grant’s elevation to overall army command provided the North with unified leadership, bringing its military superiority to bear. Written by Earl J. Hess, this chapter examines Grant’s dogged determination in wearing down Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, along with the additional pressure brought by his trusted subordinates William T. Sherman and Philip Sheridan. Union victories, coming at critical moments in the summer of 1864, helped build domestic support for Lincoln’s reelection that November. Furthermore, the “hard war” policies carried out by Sherman and Sheridan further weakened southern resolve. Though long and bloody, the campaigns begun by Grant in 1864 finally led to the surrender of Confederate armies and the collapse of the Confederate government in less than a year.


This chapter includes: 

- Animated maps of the Overland, Atlanta, Tennessee, and Petersburg campaigns, depicting the relentless nature of northern attacks and southern resolve;

- An animated chapter timeline showing the development of military and political events across time and space;

- Interactive elements that explore the development, equipment, and use of cavalry during the Civil War;

- Interactive illustrations looking at the features of Civil War trench warfare and Lee’s surrender at Appomattox;

- Data visualization widget examining Lincoln’s victory in the 1864 presidential election; and

- Biographies of key military leaders such as William T. Sherman and John Bell Hood.