Grant Turning Lee's Flank

Grant Turning Lee's Flank

The cartoon caricatured the events of the Overland Campaign and the struggle between General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant that resulted from the campaign. The cartoon depicted Grant grabbing, turning, and then swatting Lee. The Overland Campaign involved a large amount of "cat and mouse" style movement between Grant’s and Lee’s armies. Lee held the defensive and repeatedly gained advantage by avoiding Grant’s army or moving to superior terrain and entrenching. Grant repeatedly attempted to move forces around one of Lee’s flanks to break Lee’s lines and to prevent Lee’s army from retreating and moving to a more defendable position. Grant’s attempts were repeatedly met with failure due to delays and miscommunication that put his main force and flanking force in inopportune positions and prevented him from executing his plan. In the end, Lee was able to rout Grant’s forces and Lee’s army remained at large as a threat to Washington, D.C. This cartoon mocked Grant’s inability to successfully initiate his battle plan and criticized his continued efforts. In essence, the cartoon questioned Grant’s ability as a leader and seemed to be suggesting that he was foolish for not changing his tactics.

"Grant Turning Lee's Flank”, Harper's Weekly, June 11, 1864

1864-06-11

Mathew Bolden

Virginia