Grant's campaign against Lee in Virginia in 1864–65 was a fight to the finish between the two ablest commanders of the Civil War. Each general knew that the outcome of this campaign would cause either the collapse of the Confederacy or the end of the old United States. Each was willing to sacrifice tens of thousands of troops to win victory. When Grant's advantage in men and munitions took away Lee's ability to assume the initiative, Grant was able to outmaneuver Lee outside of Richmond and trap him in Petersburg.
