AR,
weren't they only stripped bare because Grant wanted to maximize his force prior to the Overland Campaign? he pretty much stripped out those 40-50K men to buff up the AOP, so by the time he moved against Lee he had some 120K men, and not just Halleck's mentioned 70K.
he was looking at only 60K men for his wilmington operation after all.
in the end going through the Wilderness was the least risky COA, but that COA was ultimately a very nasty meatgrinder where the defensive had a lot of advantages. as i said earlier, reduces the chances for an upset victory by Lee but man, that cost was high.
Teh problem was...in 1864 there were not 40,000 men sitting in the defenses of Washington...they had been stripped bare.
Read about the battle of Fort Stevens
Read about the battle of Fort Stevens
he was looking at only 60K men for his wilmington operation after all.
in the end going through the Wilderness was the least risky COA, but that COA was ultimately a very nasty meatgrinder where the defensive had a lot of advantages. as i said earlier, reduces the chances for an upset victory by Lee but man, that cost was high.
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