The Sesquicentennial
Commemoration
In June, July and August of 1864, with less than ten months left in the War, fierce and deadly battles continued. There were a myriad of “smaller” engagements throughout the South as well as the major conflicts at Cold Harbor, Atlanta and the Marietta Operations, Kennesaw Mountain and the slaughter at Petersburg. One bright spot for the South was Forrest’s performance at Brice’s Crossroads but one inspired victory could not offset the continued critical loss of men and materiel by the Confederacy.
Sherman had designs on Atlanta and Grant wanted to attack Richmond and the armies of the South were dwindling. It was a time of crisis but Lee, Johnson, Hood and the others fought on.
Confederate Prisoners
Prisoner exchange had virtually ceased and this further added to the Southern woes. As we now know the lack of exchange also created places like Andersonville.
The summaries of the summer Battles begin on the next page.
The Summer Battles
Grant continued his Overland Campaign and on May 31 the bloody Battle of Cold Harbor began. This included the Cavalry engagement at Trevilian Station and a concluding battle known as Saint Mary’s Church. Summaries of these three combats follow.
Cold Harbor
Location: Hanover County VA
Campaign: Grant’s Overland Campaign (May-June 1864)
Dates: May 31-June 12, 1864
Principal Commanders: Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]
Forces Engaged: 170,000 total (US 108,000; CS 62,000)
Estimated Casualties: 15,500 total (US 13,000; CS 2,500)
Description: 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 the 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.
Accepting his loss and abandoning the well-defended approaches to Richmond, Grant sought to shift his army quickly south of the river to threaten Petersburg.
Artist Concept of Cold Harbor Battle
Cold Harbor Battle Lines
Recovering Bodies at Cold Harbor
Trevilian Station
