The campaign of 1863 in the Army of the Cumberland had as its objective the recovery of middle Tennessee. Rosecrans forced Bragg from his lines along the Duck River; and Bragg retreating over the Cumberland crossed the Tennessee and arrived in the vicinity of Chattanooga. The Union line being advanced to the western base of the Cumberland, a cam paign against Chattanooga was begun. Grant, now assuming general command of the military division of the Mississippi, arrived 23 October; and with the Army of the Cumberland under Thomas and with a force from Vicksburg under Sherman and one from the Army of the Po tomac under Hooker, Grant fought and won the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission ary Ridge, 24-25 November, and forced a gen eral retreat of the Confederates, thus securing Chattanooga to the Federals. Knoxville, held by Burnside, was besieged by Longstreet, who, when Sherman approached, retreated to Vir ginia. In the meantime Charleston Harbor was the scene of a formidable attack and brillant de fense, and on 16 November the city was bom barded.
On 12 March 1864 Grant, now commissioned lieutenant-general, was placed in command of all the Union armies. He planned a combined movement of the armies: Gilmore from South Carolina to join Butler at Fort Monroe for a move up the James to capture City Point, threatening Petersburg and Richmond; Burn side with an army from Annapolis to join Meade in command of the Army of the Poto mac and advance against Lee's right to Rich mond; Sherman, with the Army of the Cum berland under Thomas and the Army of the Tennessee under McPherson and the Army of the Ohio under Schofield, to move against Johnston's army at Dalton; and Banks, leaving the Red River country to Steele and the navy, with his army to move against Mobile. Grant operating with the Army of the Potomac under Meade, 119,000 strong, crossed the Rapidan, 4 May 1864 and met Lee with 62,000 men in the Wilderness, and a great battle followed, 5-6 May. At Spottsylvania Court House both armies entrenched and from 8-20 May there was terrific fighting. Grant then moved toward the North Anna. Meanwhile, Sheri dan, commanding Grant's cavalry, made a raid around Lee's army and met and defeated J. E. B. Stuart at Yellow Tavern, where Stuart was killed, 11 May. Grant's advance was op posed by Lee and desperate fighting occurred at North Anna and Bethesda Church. At Cold Harbor Grant attempted an assault along his entire line, only to be repulsed with a sicken ing slaughter, 3 June, and so failed to interpose between Lee and Richmond. But Sheridan, who had been sent against Fitzhugh Lees and Hampton's Cavalry, in the meantime de feated both at Trevilian's Station. Grant now
moved toward the James, crossing at City Point and Bermuda Hundred now occupied by Butler.
Grant established his lines before Peters burg and notwithstanding his heavy fighting till 1 November (the mine explosion and battle of the Crater occurred 30 July), Lee's lines re mained unbroken. Sigel's campaign in the Shenandoah ended in defeat at New Market, 15 June, and he was superseded by Hunter, whose movement against Lynchburg was repelled by Early. Early then invaded Maryland, threaten ing Baltimore and Washington, 11 July, after which he was compelled to retire across the Po tomac. Again he advanced into Pennsylvania and burned Chambersburg, whence Sheridan drove him back into Virginia beyond Staunton and devastated the valley. Sherman moved against Johnston at Dalton early in May, and Johnston, stubbornly resisting, fell back to At lanta. Johnston was succeeded by Hood, who, after several unsuccessful battles, evacuated Atlanta and invaded Tennessee, only to be thoroughly defeated by Thomas at Nashville, 15-16 Deceniber. Sherman occupied Atlanta 2 September, and after Farragut's brilliant naval victory in Mobile Harbor made his famous march through Georgia to the sea, occupying Savannah 21 December.
Early in 1865 the closing campaigns of the war opened. Terry, co-operating with Admiral Porter, captured Fort Fisher, 15 January. On 1 February Sherman started north from Savan nah, captured Columbia, after which, event Charleston was evacuated, and on 19 March met Johnson whom he defeated after a sharp battle. In Alabama, Wilson, operating under Thomas, captured Selma with its immense war supplies, 2 April, and defeated Forrest's cavalry. The Army of the Potomac, the last to move in 1865, began a general movement to the left, 29 March; and there followed the battles of Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks, 31 March and 1 April. On 2 April the Confederate entrenchments were carried and Petersburg was evacuated; Lee, abandoning his lines held so long against such heavy odds, began a retreat to Amelia Court House. After the fall of Richmond on 3 April, Grant, with his entire army under Meade and Sheridan, pursued Lee and forced him to surrender at Appomattox, 9 April. The number paroled was 28,231, all told, the worn-out remnant of Lee's brave and noble Army of Northern Vir ginia. In North Carolina Sherman and Scho field moved against Johnston, who occupied Raleigh, and compelled him to surrender on 26 April 1865. This was the end of the war. See Crvn. WAR; also accounts of various bat tles and engagements under their respective titles. For bibliography, see special article on CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA, Vol. VII, pp. 6 to 20.