Richmond National Battlefield Park - Cold Harbor Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member 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: WM975P
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 07/07/2010
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member GT.US
Views: 4

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.

Park Name: Richmond National Battlefield Park

Historic/Cultural Park: yes

Natural Park: no

Recreation Area: no

Wildlife Refuge: no

Park Website: [Web Link]

Type of Listing: Visitor Center

Fees in Local Currency: 0.00 (listed in local currency)

Dates of Access: From: 01/01/2010 To: 12/31/2010

Hiking: yes

Camping: no

Bicycling: yes

Horseback Riding: no

Off-Roading: no

Swimming: no

Snorkling/Scuba: no

Boating: no

Rock Climbing: no

Fishing: no

Other Park Type not listed above: Not listed

Other Type Detail: Not listed

Hours available: Not listed

Other Activities: Not listed

Visit Instructions:

A log will require a recent photograph at the coordinates. Some of these locations will be placed for the scenery, so a gpsr will just ruin the picture.

If you don't have a digital camera post a descriptive log.

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Recent Visits/Logs:
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Don.Morfe visited Richmond National Battlefield Park - Cold Harbor Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia 03/03/2024 Don.Morfe visited it
dream chaser visited Richmond National Battlefield Park - Cold Harbor Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia 07/31/2021 dream chaser visited it
Team 57 visited Richmond National Battlefield Park - Cold Harbor Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia 07/28/2012 Team 57 visited it

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