I would not disagree with that placement. Lee won some stunning victories. The defense of Richmond in 1862, Chancellorsville, Second Manassas. Only the victories outside of Richmond had a significant strategic benefit.
the other two great wins, did not aid the strategic
position of the Confederacy in any way. The two campaigns Lee conceived and executed, in 1862 and 63, both ended in failure. Within 6 weeks of the start of the Overland Campaign in 1864, Lee’s army was pinned up in Petersburg like a genie in a bottle.
“Within 6 weeks of the start of the Overland Campaign in 1864, Lee’s army was pinned up in Petersburg like a genie in a bottle.”
Well put. Without demeaning Lee in any way, he hadn’t met a general like Grant before. Grant knew that capturing Richmond wouldn’t end the war - destroying the Army Of Northern Virginia would.
That’s why he embarked on the Overland Campaign. He battered the ANV (with the exception of Cold Harbor) at ever chance he could get. When he couldn’t win a battle outright, he sidestepped Lee and forced the latter to retreat south and try to intercept Grant. Lee couldn’t replace his losses. Grant could.
And when the siege of Petersburg took place, Grant slowly but surely extended his lines westward, cutting Lee off from most supplies and stretching his lines past the breaking point.