After the disastrous assault at Cold Harbor, Grant planned to pressure Lee from many directions. Sherman was "marching through Georgia" but Richmond had not yet fallen in the east.
Trying to cut off Richmond from the abundance of the Shenandoah Valley, Grant sent Union cavalry to destroy the railroad at Trevilian Station, which lies northwest of Richmond along the Spotswood Trail (US 33) which leads across the Blue Ridge to the Shenandoah Valley.
On this tour, we broke our tradition of following events chronologically for logistical reasons. We visited Trevilian Station first (because it is closer to Northern Virginia) and then went across the Blue Ridge to Piedmont Battlefield, although the Battle of Piedmont occurred first.
(Map Not to Scale)
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Next: The Battle of Piedmont
Overview: Into the Shenandoah 1864
