Cold Harbor

Killing Fields. June 1864.

"The men bent down as the pushed forward, as if trying...to breast a tempest, and the files of men went down like rows of blocks or bricks pushed over by striking each other" John Piper 12th NH Inf.

The Federal losses, about 7,000, were the heaviest ever sustained in America in so brief an action Seven miles of defensive line protecting Richmond. "We must hold this line". This photo looks past one of the type of smoothbore guns that unleashed grapeshot against the advancing Federals. Even this did not dampen the resolve of Grant. He withdrew and maneuvered to the southeast of the line to continue his advance toward Richmond. We remember Kentuckian John Breckenridge who stood here with Longstreet and AP Hill
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T