Overland Campaign and Siege of Petersburg (May 1864–April 1865)

1. Grant begins the Overland Campaign southward

   May 4, 1864Labels: Ulysses S, Army of, Richmond Campaign

   • Britannica Wilderness
   • NPS Cold Harbor

2. Battle of the Wilderness opens the campaign

   May 5, 1864Labels: Battle of, Army of, Dense woods

   • Britannica Wilderness
   • NPS FRSP overview

3. Grant turns south toward Spotsylvania Court House

   May 7, 1864Labels: Spotsylvania maneuver, Ulysses S, Richmond

   • Britannica Wilderness
   • NPS Spotsylvania shelter

4. Fighting begins at Spotsylvania Court House

   May 8, 1864Labels: Spotsylvania Court, Field fortifications, Entrenchments

   • NPS Spotsylvania shelter
   • Britannica Spotsylvania

5. Overland Campaign stalls at the North Anna River

   May 23, 1864Labels: North Anna, Robert E, Defensive line

   • NPS North Anna
   • ABT North Anna

6. Totopotomoy Creek clashes push armies toward Cold Harbor

   May 29, 1864Labels: Totopotomoy Creek, Cold Harbor, Army movement

   • NPS Totopotomoy
   • ABT Totopotomoy map

7. Cold Harbor fighting culminates in costly assaults

   Jun 3, 1864Labels: Cold Harbor, Entrenched defenses, June 3

   • NPS Cold Harbor
   • Britannica Petersburg

8. Union probes Petersburg in the First Battle of Petersburg

   Jun 9, 1864Labels: First Battle, Petersburg defenses, Rail hub

   • First Petersburg
   • Britannica Petersburg

9. Second Battle of Petersburg fails; siege lines form

   Jun 15, 1864Labels: Second Battle, Siege lines, Trench networks

   • ABT Second Petersburg
   • Britannica Petersburg

10. Jerusalem Plank Road battle targets the Weldon Railroad

    Jun 21, 1864Labels: Jerusalem Plank, Weldon Railroad, Supply lines

    • Jerusalem Plank Road
    • Britannica Petersburg

11. Battle of the Crater ends in Union defeat

    Jul 30, 1864Labels: Battle of, Mine explosion, Confederate counterattack

    • Britannica Crater
    • NPS Petersburg

12. Globe Tavern permanently cuts the Weldon Railroad

    Aug 18, 1864Labels: Globe Tavern, Weldon Railroad, Union occupation

    • Encyclopedia VA
    • Britannica Petersburg

13. Confederate attack at Fort Stedman fails

    Mar 25, 1865Labels: Fort Stedman, Confederate assault, Lee

    • NPS Fort Stedman
    • Britannica Petersburg

14. Union victory at Five Forks threatens last supply line

    Apr 1, 1865Labels: Five Forks, South Side, Union victory

    • NPS Five Forks
    • Britannica Petersburg

15. Breakthrough at Petersburg ends the siege

    Apr 2, 1865Labels: Petersburg breakthrough, Union assault, Abandonment of

    • NPS Five Forks
    • Britannica Petersburg

16. Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House

    Apr 9, 1865Labels: Appomattox Court, Robert E, Surrender

    • NPS Surrender
    • Britannica Appomattox