The Battle of Cold Harbor

The Battle of Cold Harbor took place in Hanover County Virginia and started on May 31 when Sheridan’s cavalry captured the vital cross roads around Cold Harbor. On June first (1864) Union corps VI and XVII arrived and supported Sheridan’s cavalry regiment. On June Second both armies were on the battlefield, which was seven miles long and extended from Bethesda Church to Chickahominy River. On June 3(1864) II and XVII corps assaulted the Confederates along Bethesda Church and were decimated by the Confederate army. Grant later said that he regretted the order to attack. The North and South continued fighting on that line until June twelfth. On June twelfth Grant had his army move to the left flank and started to march to James River. On June fourteenth the II Union corps were ferried a crossed the James River at Willcoxs Landing. June fifteenth the rest of Grants Army crossed the River at Wayanoke Bridge. At the end of the battle there were 15,500 casualties, 13,000 were from the Union Army and 2,500 from the Confederate army.  The Confederate won the battle of Cold Harbor due to the lack of poor planning.

"Cold Harbor." HPS. CWSAC, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2013. <http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va062.htm>.