Old Cold Harbor Crossroads

31 May, 1864

(Prelude to the battle of Cold Harbor)

Old Cold Harbor Crossroads, an intersection of five roads, was vital to both Lee and Grant. If Grant had possession of the crossroads, he could extend his left flank around Lee's right and attack Richmond. If Lee's forces held the intersection he threatened Grant's supply base at White House Landing. Both Generals had infantry reinforcements on the way. Grant had Smith's division marching from White House Landing while Hoke's Division of 7000 men was on it's way from Bermuda Hundred to bolster Lee's ranks. On May 30, 1864 Lee dispatched Fitzhugh Lee's division of Cavalry to hold the Old Cold Harbor Intersection till Hoke arrived. The next day, Grant sent Sheridan with a large body of Union cavalry in the direction of Old Cold Harbor to protect the Union left.

In a copse of trees at the crossroads sat a rundown inn, "The Old Cold Harbor Tavern", owned by Isaac Burnett. The term cold harbor, dating back to colonial times, means an inn that does not provide hot meals. (Picture is from the Library of Congress)

Chain of command for Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry

Confederate Cavalry Corp, General Wade Hampton commanding

Fitzhugh Lee's Division, Major General Fitzhugh Lee commanding

Wickham's Brigade, Brigadier General Williams C. Wickham commanding

2nd Virginia Cavalry, Colonel Thomas T. Munford commanding.

Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, 1st Lieutenant James L. Jones commanding

During the morning of May 31, Union Cavalry commanders met at Parsley's Mill. It was decided that Merritt and Custer's Brigades would attack from the west down Old Church Road while Devin's Brigade would attack from the south east along Black Creek Church Road. If possible, Devin was to slide around the Confederate forces at Old Cold Harbor and capture their horses. The attack was scheduled for 3pm.

Area to the right of  Wickham's defensive position on Black Creek Church Road (Modern day Rockhill Road)

On the morning of  May 31, Fitzhugh Lee had positioned Lomax's Brigade across the Old Church Road and Wickham's Brigade across the Black Creek Church Road. The Confederate defenses were described by one union trooper as "...strong breast-works of logs across each of the roads, and had artillery in a favorable position to sweep the road."

As the Union Cavalry attack unfolded the afternoon of  May 31, Devin's 17th Pennsylvania ran into Wickham's first line of barricades across Black Creek Church Road. Dismounting, the 17th Pennsylvania went around the southern end of the roadblock, enfilading the Wickham's troopers, forcing them back. Continuing his advance Devin's Brigade crashed into Wickham's main barricades. The 17th Pennsylvania with the 4th, 6th and 9th New York fought with Wickham's 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Virginia. A Pennsylvania trooper described the action as "... one of the most hotly contested fights we ever had, the command losing heavily..."  Devin sent the 6th New York around the Confederate right in an attempt to capture Fitz Lee's horses but were unable to punch through.

Wickham checked Devin until his left flank was exposed by the collapse of Lomax's line across the Cold Harbor Road . The Confederates rallied about a mile west, forming a line that ran north to south across Cold Harbor Road.That night Fitzhugh Lee's troopers camped on the extreme right of the new Confederate line that their fight had given Robert E. Lee time to entrench.The 2nd Virginia had 8 men wounded during this action. they were relieved by Breckinridge's Infantry Division on the 2nd June.

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