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May 31-June 12, 1864
Estimated Casualties: 15,500 total (US 13,000; CS 2,500)
On May 31, Sheridan’s cavalry seized the vital crossroads of Old Cold
Harbor. Early on June 1, relying heavily on their new repeating
carbines and shallow entrenchments, Sheridan’s troopers threw back an
attack by Confederate infantry. Confederate reinforcements arrived
from Richmond and from the Totopotomoy Creek lines. Late on June 1,
the Union VI and XVIII Corps reached Cold Harbor and assaulted the
Confederate works with some success. By June 2, both armies were on
the field, forming on a seven-mile front that extended from Bethesda
Church to the Chickahominy River. At dawn June 3, the II and XVIII
Corps, followed later by the IX Corps, assaulted along the Bethesda
Church-Cold Harbor line and were slaughtered at all points. Grant
commented in his memoirs that this was the only attack he wished he
had never ordered. The armies confronted each other on these lines
until the night of June 12, when Grant again advanced by his left
flank, marching to James River. On June 14, the II Corps was ferried
across the river at Wilcox’s Landing by transports. On June 15, the
rest of the army began crossing on a 2,200-foot long pontoon bridge
at Weyanoke. Abandoning the well-defended approaches to Richmond,
Grant sought to shift his army quickly south of the river to threaten
Petersburg.
(Text Source:
U.S. Gov't, National Park Service)
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