Civil War Today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.civilwartraveler.com/maps/va-1864overland.html 

 

I have struggled with describing Cold Harbor from the moment I visited there. It was one of the earliest battles I had read about and I was drawn to it from early on, but somehow I had the events there all twisted up in my mind. For one thing, I was so caught up in the description of the final charge, with its terrible casualties, that in my mind Cold Harbor was a one day battle.

 

Cold Harbor was not a one day battle, terrible as the last charge was the real horror was the flat, wide open nature of the place. Men cowered in the dirt day after day unable to rise up even a little bit for fear of sharpshooters ranging the opposing lines with high powered rifles sporting excellent scopes. Soldiers scurried like rats, hiding during the day, daring only to come out at night, if at all.

 

Even the rear areas were subject to the sharpshooters sights. For two full weeks everyone wallowed in the dirt with clear cut result. A Union break though was plugged before it could achieve ant result. Lee could only stand on the defense by this point so the situation seemed fine enough but for the Union something had to be done, leading to the fateful last charge. Much has been written about it, something like 5,000 men died in a few minutes time. It was a mistake and everyone knew it.

 

Realizing he was stalemated Grant looked at his map again, thinking possibly of another flanking move, he realized that all his maneuvering had shifted his army around until their left flank was south. If the Army of the Potomac could move quickly they could beeline into Petersburg before Lee knew what had happened. It almost worked

 

 

 

 

 

 

The battle was fought over ground that had been cleared and plowed for planting. Any advance was made over open ground.

 

Now, imagine the ground plowed and muddy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cold Habor as the world has come to think it.

 

 

Cold Harbor as the soldiers saw it.

 

Cold Harbor now. The trees have come back. The soldiers thought Cold Harbor to be a barren ugly place. Now it's a green and beautiful park.