Why is it so hard for people to understand that Grant campaign of "Adhesion" was the ONLY way to win the war. Lee was dug in deep and the only way to reduce his numbers was to stay with him. Grant told a subordinate "Where ever Lee goes your will go also". Grant was not a butcher, far from it - In fact there has been, in the last 10 years or so a more critical view of Lee and a more favorable view of Grant (I am waiting for the movie). Grant tried his darndest to get Lee out from his trenches and fight. In Fact Grant said in his Memeoirs - "....This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to compensate: but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence sufficiently to induce him to take the offensive. In fact, nowhere after the battle of the Wilderness did Lee show any disposition to leave his defences far behind him".

Fact was, Lee would not defeat Grant without being heavily entrenched.