May 1, 1864---A bloody spingtime: Billy Yank and Johnny Reb in the Eastern Theatre

MAY 1, 1864:     

After a long hiatus in the Eastern Theatre, the Army of The Potomac and The Army of Northern Virginia are about to grapple again. 

The Army of Northern Virginia is in northern Virginia, just south of the Rapidan River, miles inland, west of the Atlantic coast which is occupied by General Benjamin Butler’s Army of The James, comprised of 30,000 men.   

To the north, just across the Rapidan River, lies the main body of The Army of The Potomac, 125,000 strong, under Generals Grant and Meade.   

To the South, in Tennessee and Georgia, William Tecumseh Sherman is in overall command of The Army of The Cumberland, The Army of The Tennessee, and The Army of The Ohio (a total of 100,000 men). 

Any of these forces could move to attack Lee, or all of them. Against more than a quarter-million Union troops, Lee has 65,000 men.