Grant's goals against Lee at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House were the same in both battles, to drive Lee from the field. Grant failed in both cases with very high casualties, much higher than was inflicted on the Confederates, against a force half his size. Grant does not impress me as a military genious, competant yes, but easy to figure out by a strategist like Lee. For gosh sakes General Grant let Van Dorn whip him and almost lost to Pillow and Floyd!! Had it not been for reenforcements from another army he would have lost at Shilo. I understand General Lee thought General McClellan was his closest match, he was harder to read.
____________________
David Upton