General Grant, an officer who had shown in the campaign in the West that he possessed considerable military ability, united with immense firmness and determination of purpose, was chosen as the new commander-in-chief of the whole military force of the North.

It was a mighty army, vast in numbers, lavishly provided with all materials of war.

The official documents show that on the 1st of May the total military forces of the North amounted to 662,000 men.

Of these the force available for the advance against Richmond numbered 284,630 men.

This included the Army of the Potomac, that of the James River, and the army in the Shenandoah Valley--the whole of whom were in readiness to move forward against Richmond at the orders of Grant.
To oppose these General Lee had less than 53,000 men, including the garrison of Richmond and the troops in North Carolina.