You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.

When the creators of the popular science show with millions of YouTube subscribers comes the Minute Earth podcast.

Every episode of the show dives deep into a science question you might not even know you had,

but once you hear the answer, you'll want to share it with everyone you know.

Why do rivers curve?

Why did the T-Rex have such tiny arms? And why do so many more kids

need glasses now than they used to? Spoiler alert, it isn't screen time. Our team of scientists

digs into the research and breaks it down into a short, entertaining explanation, jam-packed

with science facts and terrible puns. Subscribe to Minute Earth wherever you like to listen. Hey, everyone. Thanks for tuning in to episode number 501 of our Civil War podcast. My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy. Hello, y'all. Welcome to the podcast. With the belated truths at Cold Harbor, the

Overland campaign came to a close. The debacle at Cold Harbor

ended Ulysses-S. Grant's last opportunity to defeat Robert E. Lee in the field, which was

Grant's stated goal from the time the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidion. But now Grant had

run out of room to which to maneuver.

His offensive begun a month ago, now reached an uneasy equilibrium in the sandy trenches and

rifle pits the two armies occupied between Tadapotomy Creek and the Chickahominee River.

Grant therefore made plans to abandon the

Overland route in favor of a ship south of the James River, aimed at cutting the railroads

connecting Richmond with the deep south. This was a different strategy than the one behind the campaign

just ended. The objective of the Overland campaign had been to

destroy Lee's army in the open field. The new federal offensive, presently dubbed the Petersburg

campaign, would do so by choking off the logistical lifeblood the Army of Northern Virginia depended

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