Chapter 12:
Cold Harbor.
June 1-12, 1864.
- By the left flank to Cold Harbor -- three positions -- the assault and repulse -- a night attack -- mortars and bomb-proofs -- the ‘Saucy Battery’ -- an Armistice.
‘Early on the night of the 1st,’ [says Hancock, in his official report,] ‘I commenced withdrawing my corps in obedience to instructions from the Major General commanding. My orders required me to mass near army headquarters, but were afterwards changed, and I was directed to make every effort to reach Cold Harbor as early as possible to reinforce Wright's (Sixth Corps) left. Every exertion was made; but the night was dark, the heat and dust oppressive, and the roads unknown. Still we should have reached Cold Harbor in good season; but Capt. Paine, topographical engineer, who had been ordered to report to me to guide my column, unfortunately took one of my divisions by a “short cut” where artillery could not follow, which threw my column into confusion. .... The head of my column reached Cold Harbor at 6.30 A. M., June 2d. but in such an exhausted condition that a little time was allowed the men to close up and to cook their rations. (The attack ordered for the morning was postponed until 5 P. M.）’It may be desirable at this point to explain in brief the cause of this new movement. Gen. Grant, thinking that the attempt to force a passage across the Chickahominy, where the two opposing armies then lay, had little promise of success, deemed it advisable to extend his line to the left, and endeavor to pass the river lower down by a movement to Cold Harbor. This latter place was the point of convergence of several roads from Richmond, White House (the new base of supplies), and other places.
