Richmond National Battlefield Park - Cold Harbor Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia
Posted by: 
gparkes
N 37° 35.128 W 077° 17.226
18S E 298059 N 4162282
Of the units within the Richmond National Battlefield Park, this saw the bloodiest action. Ulyssess S. Grant even regreted extended action here pursuing a seige against Petersburg, Virginia rather than continued fighting.
Waymark Code: WM975N
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 07/07/2010
Views: 5
The National Parks Service website says of Cold Harbor:
Cold Harbor is the best known battlefield in the park. For two weeks, May 31 – June 12, 1864, the armies of Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant tangled in a complicated series of actions. A determined Confederate defense turned away a massive Federal attack on June 3 and helped convince Grant to maneuver south and advance on Petersburg. The visitor center includes an electric map program for Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, exhibits, and a small bookstore. A one-mile drive parallels and crosses significant stretches of both the Confederate and Union entrenchments, all of which are original to 1864. Cold Harbor is the best known battlefield in the park. For two weeks, May 31 – June 12, 1864, the armies of Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant tangled in a complicated series of actions. A determined Confederate defense turned away a massive Federal attack on June 3 and helped convince Grant to maneuver south and advance on Petersburg. The visitor center includes an electric map program for Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, exhibits, and a small bookstore. A one-mile drive parallels and crosses significant stretches of both the Confederate and Union entrenchments, all of which are original to 1864.
During the two week battle, the Union army lost 12,000 killed, wounded, missing and captured while the Confederates suffered almost 4,000 casualties. After the battle Ulyssess S. Grant stated, "I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made... no advantage was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained."
Touring the battlefield can be done anytime during daylight hours, but rangers are only available when the Visitor's Center to be open, as it is all year, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of closures on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ranger programs are available on weekends during the summer.