Ethan's Peach Tree - A Civil War Blog

The lead regiments of the Army of the Potomac approached the crossroads where their new commander sat his horse.  Once again, badly mauled by General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, the Army of the Potomac had just suffered 17,500 casualties at the Battle of the Wilderness.  These lead regiments expected their new commander to point north like all their other defeated generals had done, so the army could take protection near Washington and its forts...but as they came to the crossroads their new commander pointed south.  This new commander had told Lincoln "There would be no turning back," and he was keeping his word.  The regimental bands began to play, and the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac took heart and began to sing.  Finally, they had a General who was willing to fight on.  Grant had taken command.