Locust Grove in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Grant Takes Command

Union Strategy in 1864

— Lee vs. Grant - The 1864 Campaign —

Grant Takes Command Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 17, 2021

1. Grant Takes Command Marker

Inscription.
President Abraham Lincoln placed Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in charge of the Union's overall strategy in March 1864. The new commander brought fresh energy to the Federal war effort, and developed a strategy whereby Union armies would simultaneously attack on all fronts. Grant ordered Gen. William T. Sherman to drive from Chattanooga to Atlanta while Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks advanced from New Orleans to Mobile. At the same time, smaller Union armies would move up the Shenandoah Valley against Richmond from the south.

Here in the Eastern Theater, Grant confronted the problem posed by the dangerous Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Grant realized that this force had to be destroyed to win the war. He told Army of the Potomac commander Gen. George G. Meade, "Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also." Grant made his headquarters with Meade's army to infuse it with his relentless drive and determination and to make sure his orders were followed after the Federals crossed the Rapidan River here at Germanna Ford. The result was the six weeks of incessant combat and more than 85,000 combined Union and Confederate casualties.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

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lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1864.

Location. 38° 22.661′ N, 77° 46.963′ W. Marker is in Locust Grove, Virginia, in Orange County. Marker is on College Drive (Virginia Route 375) 0.2 miles west of Germanna Highway (Virginia Route 3), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2062 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove VA 22508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Germanna Ford (here, next to this marker); Fort Germanna (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexander Spotswood's Enchanted Castle (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Germanna Visitor Center (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Germanna Ford (within shouting distance of this marker); Hans Conrad Amberger (about 300 feet away, measured

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 17, 2021

2. Grant Takes Command Marker

in a direct line); Germanna (about 300 feet away); Giuseppe Oddenino (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Locust Grove.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Germanna Ford image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 15, 2018

3. Germanna Ford

As viewed from the Germanna Highway bridge which crosses the Rapidan River just south of the ford.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on April 20, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.