usmcsgt65, your statement "The Confederate's "will to fight" was not crushed, changed, or challenged." applies equally well to the Confederate army after Gettysburg. In fact their morale was still fairly high. I maintain that the capture of Henry and Donelson was a turning point because it provided the jump off point for the Union army to split the south asunder yet again.
Andy, figuring troop strength for the Confederacy at that point is always risky, but I believe at the beginning of the overland campaign Lee hadf about 60,000 men. At petersburg, just before five forks, he was whittled down to about 35,000 troops. Finally at Appomattox 12,000 surrendered. 3 days earlier at Saylors creek about 6,000 rebs were taken prisoner in the last pitched battle made by the ANV.
Regards,
Bill
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"Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words."
King John 2.1.466
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