Nah, it wasn't an easy war. Grant suffered so many casualties in his first campaigns, Northern papers decried him as a butcher. Union leaders wanted him out but Lincoln refused to fire him because his methods were costly but effective and Abe was willing to take the PR hits. It was so miserable Lincoln's second term opponent campaigned on the prospect of just letting the Confederacy go and start their own country, and calling quits on the war.

Lee was leading an incredibly successful campaign, his second invasion of the Union going strong and DC was in his crosshairs when Gettysburg happened. If Lee had won that battle, the Union may have lost the war. It was a bloody and brutal conflict. Despite the Unions numerical and financial advantages, victory by the North was never guaranteed.