118 



AEMY OPERATIONS. 



regain the rifle-pits, and succeeded in annoy- 

 ing the troops with an enfilading fire. Their 

 charges, however, were repelled. The loss of 

 the Union troops was about two thousand ; the 

 enemy being behind breastworks, probably suf- 

 fered much less. The change in the line now 

 had brought Gen. "Wright to the extreme left, 

 . between whom and the 5th corps was now the 

 18th under Gen. Smith. During the entire day 

 there had been warm work along the whole 

 line, in which the artillery took a part toward 

 night. Several distinct charges were made by 

 the enemy, which were repulsed. No careful 

 estimate of the losses in this part of the field 

 during the day was made, but it was supposed 

 not to exceed a thousand. The loss of the 

 enemy was severe. The result of the day was 

 the complete occupation and holding of Coal 

 Harbor, which was aii important position both 

 as commanding the road to the White House, 

 whence supplies were brought, and also in ref- 

 erence to a subsequent crossing of the Chicka- 

 hominy. 



In the night it was determined by Gen. 

 Grant to make the attempt to push the enemy 

 across the Chickahominy, and to secure a 

 place to ford that stream. The 2d corps was 

 therefore advanced from the extreme right 

 to the extreme left, in order to increase the 

 force in that direction. It reached its position 

 about noon the next day, Thursday, June 2d. 

 The attack which was to have been made on 

 that evening, owing to the heavy rain which 

 ensued, was postponed until the next morning, 

 Friday. Considerable skirmishing had taken 

 place during the day, and a charge was made 

 upon the 5th and 9th corps, without gaining 

 any special advantage. 



At half-past 4 o'clock on Friday morning 

 the army was in motion. Its line extended 

 from Tolopatomy Creek across the road from 

 Coal Harbor to the Chickahominy. The ground 

 consisted of woodlands, swamp, and open fields. 

 The skirmishers were promptly advanced, and 

 the whole line was soon engaged in a terrific 

 battle. From Gen. Hancock's corps on the 

 extreme left the brigades of Gens. Gibbon and 

 Barlow moved boldly forward, exposed to shot 

 and shell, up the ascent on which the enemy in 

 their front had concentrated their men and ar- 

 tillery. They drove out the enemy, and for a 

 moment were in possession of their position. 

 Being in advance of the line, they were exposed 

 to a most destructive enfilading fire of the 

 enemy. At the same time the second line of 

 the enemy was massed and hurled upon them. 

 Thus overwhelmed in front, and swept by a fire 

 on the flank, these divisions were now driven 

 out of the intrenchments, but not until they 

 had secured a color and three hundred prison- 

 ers. Falling back about fifty yards they were 

 under a partial cover of the ridge. Here they 

 intrenched themselves, and remained through 

 the day. So far had they advanced that one 

 of the enemy's batteries was captured and 

 nearly turned against them when the retreat 



was ordered. The 18th and the 6th corps ad- 

 joining the second along the line charged for- 

 ward with not less gallantry, and carried the 

 first line of the enemy's intrenchments, but 

 were received with a most destructive enfilad- 

 ing fire. After an obstinate conflict they were 

 forced back, yielding the position which they 

 had taken, and occupied another close to the 

 enemy's works, which they intrenched. On 

 the right'the 5th and 9th corps were advanced ; 

 but the conflict here was not so severe, as the 

 force of the enemy was massed on their right. 

 Still further to the right the 3d division of 

 cavalry, under Gen. Wilson, were engaged with 

 a force of the enemy under Gen. Hampton, but 

 without important results. The contest was 

 continued with more or less vigor throughout 

 the day. The enemy were found too strongly 

 posted to carry their works, and all efforts to 

 cross the Chickahominy at that point were re- 

 pelled. The loss was nearly seven thousand in 

 killed, wounded, and prisoners. The enemy 

 lost many prisoners, but the advantages under 

 which they fought prevented their loss from 

 being so severe. The following despatches 

 were issued by the War Department : 



WASHINGTON, June 4, 1864. 

 To Major- Gen. Dix : 



Despatches from Gen. Grant's headquarters, dated 

 3 o'clock yesterday, have just been received. No 

 operations took place on Thursday. Yesterday, at 

 half-past 4 o'clock A. M., Gen. Grant made an assault 

 on the enemy's lines, of which he makes the follow- 

 ing report : 



"We assaulted at half-past 4 A. M., driving the 

 enemy within his intrenchments at all points, but 

 without gaining any decisive advantage. Our troops 

 now occupy a position close to the enemy, some 

 places within fifty yards, and are remaining. Our 

 loss was not severe, nor do I suppose the enemy to 

 have lost heavily. We captured over three hundred 

 prisoners, mostly from Breckinridge." 



Another later official report, not from Gen. Grant, 

 estimates the number of our killed and wounded at 

 about three thousand. The following officers are 

 among the killed : 



Col. Haskell, 36th Wisconsin ; Col. Porter, 8th New 

 York heavy artillery ; Col. Morris, 66th New York. 



Among the wounded are Gen. R. 0. Tyler seri- 

 ously will probably lose a foot; Col. McMahon, 

 164th New York; Col. Byrnes, 28th Massachusetts 

 probably mortally; and Col. Brooke, 53d Pennsyl- 

 vania. EDWIN M. STANTON, Sec'y of War. 



WASHINGTON, June 51 p. M. 

 Major- Gen. Dix : 



A despatch from Gen. Grant's headquarters, dated 

 half-past 8 o'clock last night, has been received. It 

 states that " about 7 P. M. yesterday, Friday, 3d of 

 June, the enemy suddenly attacked Smith's brigade, 

 of Gibbon's division. The battle lasted with great 

 fury for half an hour. The attack was unwaveringly 

 repulsed. Smith's losses were inconsiderable." 



At 6 P. M., Wilson, with his cavalry, fell upon the 

 rear of a brigade of Heth's division, which Lee had 

 thrown around to his left, apparently with the inter 

 tion of enveloping Burnside. After a sharp but sho 

 conflict, Wilson drove them from their rifle-pits in 

 confusion. He took a few prisoners. He had previ- 

 ously fought and routed Gordon's brigade of rebel 

 cavalry. During these fights he lost several officers, 

 among them Col. Preston, 1st Vermont cavalry, kill* 

 ed ; Col. Benjamin, 8th New York cavalry, seriously 

 wounded. 



Our entire loss in killed, wounded, and missing 



