You're listening to an number 490s. Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 496 of our Civil War podcast. I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy. Hello, y'all. Thanks for tuning into the podcast. As y'all will recall, we use the last episode to look at the Overland campaign from the standpoint of casualties and prisoners of war.

Then, looking ahead to this show, we said that while every campaign during the Civil War brought hardship,

the non-stop stress associated with the Overland campaign stunned everyone. And as May wore on, the psychic

landscape of the participants was increasingly dominated by crushing fatigue and constant anxiety.

In a letter to his wife, Julia, Ulysses S. Grant said, quote,

The world has never seen so bloody or protracted a battle as the one being fought,

and I hope never will again.

Grant's correspondence during this time often opened with a reference to the sustained nature of the campaign.

One dispatch to Washington began, We have now ended the sixth day of the campaign. One dispatch to Washington began,

we have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting.

Another began by noting,

the eighth day of battle closes.

And in a letter to Julia,

the ninth day of battle is just closing.

Other men kept track as well, soldiers recorded, quote,

we have been fighting continuously for six days.

Quote, the battle has been raging here for 12 days with more or less ferocity.

And, quote, today is the 15th in which our men have been in line of

battle. On May 17th, as he welcomed the reins that forced a pause in Grant's campaign,

a soldier explained to his girl back home, we need the rest, as we have worked day and night since we started. In all other

fights, it has not lasted but two or three days, but we have been in this one about two weeks.

...