After Grant's army escaped from the trap that Lee had set for it at the Battle of North Anna, it began to move again around the right flank of Lee's army, in a continuation of the maneuvering that had characterized the campaign throughout May 1864.
Efter at Grants hær var undsluppet den fælde, som Lee havde stillet for ham i Slaget ved North Anna, begyndte den igen at manøvrere rundt om Lees højre flanke i en fortsættelse af de manøvrer, som havde kendetegnet kampagnen igennem maj 1864.