The Battle of North Anna | Historians Debate

In this episode of the War Department, our experts discuss Battle of North Anna, a significant phase of the 1864 Overland Campaign. Historians Robert E. L. Krick and Mike Miller explore this often overlooked engagement and the ground on which it was fought.
Learn More at: www.battlefields.org//

[@andrewdiemer2643]

The North Anna Battlefield is amazingly quiet and well preserved. I visited the “inverted V” site in oct of 2016 and I had the entire park to my self and make no mistake these trails are very exstensive for a state park. And they all follow confederate earthworks as well as a trail to follow the union probing attack on the line. Be prepared for rough terrain as well as possibly wet terrain as the trails get right up along side the river. Also if you go alone tell someone before hand as there are very few visitors and cell phone reception is lackluster at best. Great park though!!! You have to check it out if you get the chance!

[@jonrettich4579]

Jackson seems to be everyones reference point. Does everyone forget Jackson’s breakdown during the seven days or take into consideration the Union generals arrayed against him as not necessarily being the brightest lights. When confronted with competent Union combat forces they predictably cost each other much. Grant understood the simple grim math of war after finding Lee far different than what he had faced before. How about exhausted troops and commanders on both sides especially in ‘64 and ‘65 that can be a huge but incalculable factor. I greatly appreciate your series and your clear and valuable presentations

[@logank444]

God I would love to work for the civil war trust. You guys do a great job keep it up

[@douglasrishell]

thank you for sharing this wonderful video.

[@HowardCanaway]

Grant out thought Lee, Grant knew how to overlap his flanks, He used the same tactic getting around Vicksburg. "Move by right flank." Shelby Foote.

[@johnjacobs1625]

Great video guys!

[@BrandonSmith84]

My 1st Cousin 5x Removed Pvt. Belteshazzar S. “Belt” Dragoo, III 1835-1864 Company F, 7th Indiana Volunteer Regiment Killed On May 25th 1864. During The Battle of North Anna His Brother John Nelson Dragoo was by his side when he died.

[@kensilverstone1656]

Very well done.

[@forwardobserver6441]

Hey- Wilcox brigade! Tip of the hat to my grand pa in company I 8 Alabama. Go get em pops.

[@fastsetinthewest]

Nice video... One thing about Grant, he'd put troops into a fight. Like USA Army fights coming down the road in USA history. Many fights like 'Custer's Last Stand' to the 'Battle of the Slopes'. Many USA men lost in bad strategic battles.

[@b2l421]

Does anybody know the fife & drum tune in the background?

[@theunfortunategeneral]

I wonder what program they use to do these.

[@timmycrw91]

Never even heard of this battle. Thanx for the info!

[@willboyd4607]

Notice that big flock of geese crossing the screen (in the distance) at the end.

[@brianmfieldwick3494]

Why have Miller on the video when you direct 90 percent of questions to the other guest

[@0atmmc953]

Foolish pride - but today I guess I get it. Many thanks for the video.

[@peris_arts_film9699]

Lee didn’t lose Longstreet, he had died after the war unless I’m mishearing the I formation

[@MrOrdgar]

Longstreet was shot by his own men at the Wilderness and was out of action until late 1864.

[@douglaswalsh9629]

Old Pete was wounded (WIA, NOT KIA!) & out of Action, Stonewall was unfortunately DEAD at Chancellorsville!

[@crimony3054]

Lee's greatest victory. Grant quits the battle without even trying to dislodge the enemy before him.

[@paulmorales3815]

Stonewall on that exposed union force like a hawk on a ground!(I wanted to laugh!) I think that was Lee's best chance to attack and even defeat grant

[@willboyd4607]

The War was effectively over when Lee retreated from Gettysburg.

[@americanworkingsteel8062]

The War was effectively over only after Grant sent his cavalry west toward The Valley and the Confederate cavalry followed. They fought the Battle of Trevalian Station. The Confederate cavalry, thus occupied, was unavailable to detect Grant's decisive movement toward and across the James. Lee remained entrenched at Cold Harbor for two crucial days as Grant moved undetected around his right flank and across his front. The Federal attacks against Lee's Cold Harbor position are what held the ANV in place. Most historians call it butchery, but the attacks against the entrenched position at Cold Harbor and the subsequent extreme loss of lives due to those assaults, was a strategic masterpiece. The movement of the Federal Horse toward The Valley then drew off the majority of Lee's cavalry and allowed Grant to move undetected onto the James. This also, was a strategic move of a Master of the Art of War. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg did not effectively end the war. What it did effectively was allow the war to continue. Frankly, from a strategic standpoint, Lee's successful retreat from Gettysburg may be his greatest accomplishment during the war. His successful retreats were vastly more effective from a strategic point of view than were any of his victories on the fields of battle.

[@T555BIRD]

There about 160,00 dead federal troops that would disagree with you.

[@PeterOkeefe54]

for gods sake open up the battlefields to students and scouts with metal detectors and let them have the joy of history...NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER CARE