But during this time there occurred what was to subject all elements of all the Armies of the Union to harmony of action, and thus, in good time, end the attempt at the destruction of the Union, and thereby cease the struggle for its maintenance.
Grant in Command of all the Armies.
By special Act of Congress the rank of Lieutenant-General was revived, and, by the President, conferred on Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, with assignment to the command of all the Armies of the United States, Halleck being relieved as General-in-Chief, and assigned to duty in Washington as Army Chief of Staff.
After the severe experiences of three years, the Executive and Legislative Departments had come to the common agreement, that the rebellion could be put down with one Army, but never with a score, with ten, nor even two. Starting anew, there would be one Captain of the Host.
The Army of the Potomac was now—2d Corps, Hancock; 5th Corps, Warren; 6th Corps, Sedgwick; Cavalry, Sheridan; and Hunt, Chief of Artillery; Meade in command of the whole, but Grant always present.
The 84th was assigned to the 2d Brigade, 4th Division (Mott), 2d Corps (Hancock), and from this on the references to the 2d Corps will be, mainly, our account of the 84th.
Grant's Campaign.
Soon after midnight,
May 3-4, '64, was inaugurated Grant's Campaign—the longest, but the last, of the War.