A* summary on the Battle of Cold Harbour for AQA A Level History students studying America (the American Civil War.) Written by a student now studying at Oxford University. Following this summary will guarantee you the top marks.
-As Union forces advanced toward Richmond, Lee’s outmaneuvered Grant’s troops at
Cold Harbor in a devastating two-week action that cost more than 17,000 lives.
1st June 1864
-Lee wished to retake Old Cold Harbor.
-Sent Kershaw's division to join Hoke in a morning assault. The effort was short and
uncoordinated.
-Sheridan's troopers, armed with Spencer repeating carbines, easily repulsed the assault.
-Grant, encouraged by this success, ordered up reinforcements and planned his own
attack for later the same day.
-If the Union broke through the Confederate defenses, it would place the Union between
Lee and Richmond.
-Grant had to delay the attack as Smith's Corps marched in the wrong direction under
out-of-date orders, and arrived late.
-Finding a fifty yard gap between Hoke and Kershaw, the Union captured part of the
Confederate lines.
-A Confederate counterattack, sealed off the break and ended the day's fighting.
-Confederate infantry strengthened their lines that night.
2nd June 1864
-Grant planned another advance for June 2.
-They were forced to delay, giving Lee time to strengthen his defenses.
-The Confederates had built simple trenches by daybreak of June 2. Under Lee's personal
supervision, these works were expanded and strengthened throughout the day.
-By nightfall the Confederates occupied an interlocking series of trenches with
overlapping fields of fire.
-Reinforcements under Breckinridge and Hill arrived and fortified the Confederate right.
3rd June 1864
-At 4:30 in the morning 50,000 Federal troops launched a massive assault.
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