Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor, fought on June 3, 1864, was a significant engagement during the American Civil War, taking place near Richmond, Virginia. This battle was part of Ulysses S. Grant's broader campaign to defeat the Confederate Army led by Robert E. Lee. Prior to Cold Harbor, Grant had already faced heavy casualties at earlier battles like Wilderness and Spotsylvania, but he aimed to apply relentless pressure on the Confederacy through a strategy of attrition. At Cold Harbor, Union forces launched a massive attack against entrenched Confederate positions, resulting in devastating losses for the Union, with approximately 7,000 casualties compared to 1,500 for the Confederates. The overwhelming defeat prompted Grant to express deep regret over this particular assault, marking it as one of his most regrettable decisions as a commander. Following this battle, Grant shifted his focus southward, ultimately leading to the Siege of Petersburg. Cold Harbor remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of warfare and the complexities of military strategy during the Civil War.
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Battle of Cold Harbor
Type of action: Ground battle in the American Civil War
Date: June 3-12, 1864
Location: Central Virginia
Combatants: 100,000 Union vs. 50,000 Confederate forces
Principal commanders:Union, Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), George Meade (1815–1872); Confederate, Robert E. Lee (1807–1870)
Result: Union army suffered heavy casualties against well-fortified Confederate defenders
When Ulysses S. Grant was appointed to lead the various Union armies in March, 1864, he was upset by the lack of a coordinated plan for victory. He believed a policy of unrelenting attrition would eventually ground down the Confederacy. He ordered George G. Meade to advance toward Richmond. To ensure Meade’s continual advance, Grant attached himself to the combined force. Opposing this Union thrust was the Army of Northern Virginia, ably led by Robert E. Lee.
The first major battles were at the Wilderness (May 5-7) and Spotsylvania (May 8-20). In both of these conflicts, Union forces suffered substantial casualties, but Grant continued moving to the Confederate right, seeking to outflank his opponent. On June 3, the Northern armies launched a massive assault on the entrenched Confederates at Cold Harbor. The Southerners decimated the Union infantry. Gunners firing from fortifications mowed down waves of foot soldiers. Ultimately, the Union suffered 7,000 casualties, compared with only 1,500 for the defenders.
Significance
After the Battle at Cold Harbor, Grant again moved south, then advanced on Petersburg. The heavy losses incurred at Cold Harbor caused Grant to later comment that he regretted this assault more than any other he had ever ordered.
Bibliography
Longacre, Edward G. Army of Amateurs: General Benjamin Butler and the Army of the James, 1863–1865. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole, 1997.
Sutherland, David E. Seasons of War: The Ordeal of a Confederate Community, 1861–1865. New York: Free Press, 1995.
Wheeler, Richard. On Fields of Fury: From the Wilderness to the Crater, An Eyewitness History. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.