The Battle of Cold Harbor
May 31-June 3, 1864

Since the Federal crossing of the Rapidan in early May, the War in the East (Virginia) had markedly intensified. Fighting had become incessant and exceedingly costly. The ponderous yet imposing Union Army of the Potomac (114,000 men - LTG Ulysses S. Grant and MG George G. Meade, commanding) had  moved methodically south toward Richmond. Through a series of flanking movements (10-25 miles), all against the Confederate right, Grant was able to close on the Southland's capital, shielding his river-borne supply lines to the east, while keeping pressure on the undermanned Army of Northern Virginia (59,000 men - GEN Robert E. Lee, commanding). Nevertheless, Lee had anticipated each Federal advance. By skillful maneuver and the use of shorter interior lines, he was able to counter Grant's lateral marches by always entrenching his resourceful and quick-moving infantry between Richmond and the Army of the Potomac. Battles at The Wilderness (5-6 May), Spotsylvania Court House (8-21 May) and North Anna River (23-26 May) were largely indecisive. Casualties, in proportion to troop strength, were about equal. Cold Harbor would be alarmingly different! With a large cavalry screen (1 infantry and 2 cavalry divisions - MG Philip H. Sheridan, commanding) to the front, the Army of the Potomac marched down (southeast of) the North Anna, crossed the Pamunkey River unopposed, and approached the Old Cold Harbor Crossroads. About 10 miles northeast of Richmond, this important intersection of 5 roads probably derives its name from the colonial vernacular describing the old tavern located there... a place with accommodations but no hot meals. Enroute to the strategic junction, Sheridan's troopers overcame stubborn dismounted cavalry at Haw's Shop (28 May). And on 31 May, after an afternoon of intense fighting, Sheridan seized Old Cold Harbor from Lee's cavalry (1 division - Robert E. Lee's nephew, MG William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, commanding) and held it until Federal infantry (VI Corps - MG Horatio G. Wright, commanding and XVIII Corps, detached from MG Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James - MG William F. "Baldy" Smith, commanding) arrived the next morning. Late in the afternoon of 1 June the VI and XVIII Corps, advancing west of Old Cold Harbor, were repulsed before the earthworks of the Confederate I Corps (LTG Richard H. Anderson, commanding). During the night (1-2 June) the remaining infantry divisions of the Army of the Potomac converged on the field (midway between Old and New Cold Harbor, about a mile apart) to face the already heavily dug-in Army of Northern Virginia. Hoping to partially offset the tremendous numerical advantage that Grant now enjoyed with the addition of the XVIII Corps, Lee urgently requested (throughout May) and received reinforcements. Two brigades from the Shenandoah Valley, Department of Western Virginia (2,500 men - MG John C. Breckinridge, commanding) and an infantry division from GEN P.G.T. Beauregard's Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (7,000 men - MG Robert Hoke, commanding) joined Lee's command in late May. Now the Confederate defenses stretched for seven miles from Totopotomy Creek in the north to the Chickahominy River in the south. A massive 3 corps Federal attack opposite the Confederate right, I and III Corps (LTG A.P. Hill, III Corps commander), planned for 2 June was postponed for a day when the repositioning of the Union II Corps (MG Winfield S. Hancock, commanding) took too long. The plan also called for a diversion to the north, where the V (MG Gouverneur K. Warren, commanding) and IX Corps (MG Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding) were to attack Lee's left, defended by the II Corps (LTG Jubal A. Early, commanding). The 24 hour delay allowed Lee's I and III Corps to improve their already formidable entrenchments. At dawn on 3 June, the final Union assault commenced. Very few charges in American military history can equal in magnitude, courage, suffering and futility the last one made at Cold Harbor! The night before a sense of foreboding permeated the camps of the Union infantry brigades (II, VI, and XVIII Corps) assigned to make the main attack. Many soldiers pinned their names and addresses on the back of their coats, so that they might be identified and their fate recorded after the battle. Beginning at 4:30 AM about 50,000 Federal infantrymen advanced on a two mile front against nearly 30,000 Confederates manning elaborate field fortifications that offered direct and enfilading fire. In less than an hour it was over. Union casualties are estimated at 7,000 - the majority sustained in the first 15 minutes. Confederate losses were probably less than 1,500. Veterans on both sides were appalled by the carnage. Although it was not easy for Grant to admit defeat, even he would reflect: "I regret this assault more than anyone that I have ever ordered." Cold Harbor was a stunning victory for the South's greatest army, but it was also Lee's last major triumph...the Army of Northern Virginia would never recover from the heavy losses suffered at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor. Estimated Casualties (31 May-3 Jun): Union - 10,000; Confederate - 4,000.

Notes:

  1. Numbers in parentheses reflect estimated strength of armies or units.

  2. Estimated casualty figures are totals for killed, wounded, missing in action, and taken prisoner.

  3. Alternative names of battles and campaigns appear in parentheses.

  4. Military and naval rank abbreviations in text: LT - Lieutenant, CPT - Captain, MAJ - Major, LTC - Lieutenant Colonel, CDR - Commander (Navy), COL - Colonel, BG - Brigadier General, MG - Major General, RADM - Rear Admiral (Navy), LTG - Lieutenant General, VADM - Vice Admiral (Navy), and GEN - General.

  5. Army Organization: Although authorized and actual strength and the rank of the commanding officer often varied, the standard military unit during the War was the infantry regiment (1,000 men, COL commanding) which was comprised of 10 companies (100 men each, CPT commanding). 3-4 Regiments = 1 Brigade (3,000-4000 men, BG commanding). 3 (sometimes 4) Brigades = 1 Division (9000-12,000 men, BG or MG commanding). 2-4 (usually 3) Divisions = 1 Corps (18,000-24,000+ men, MG - North and MG or LTG -South commanding). 2 or more Corps = An Army (usually 20,000-100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding). 2 or more Armies = An Army Group (usually 100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding).

Sources:

Photographs courtesy of The Generals of the American Civil War Website.

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