Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864

by Gordon C. Rhea

Gordon Rhea's gripping fourth volume on the spring 1864 campaign-which pitted Ulysses S. Grant against Robert E. Lee for the first time in the Civil War-vividly re-creates the battles and maneuvers from the stalemate on the North Anna River through the Cold Harbor offensive. Cold Harbor: Grant and Lee, May 26-June 3, 1864 showcases Rhea's tenacious research which elicits stunning new facts from the records of a phase oddly ignored or mythologized by historians. In clear and profuse tactical detail, Rhea tracks the remarkable events of those nine days, giving a surprising new interpretation of the famous battle that left seven thousand Union casualties and only fifteen hundred Confederate dead or wounded. Here, Grant is not a callous butcher, and Lee does not wage a perfect fight. Within the pages of Cold Harbor, Rhea separates fact from fiction in a charged, evocative narrative. He leaves readers under a moonless sky, with Grant pondering the eastward course of the James River fifteen miles south of the encamped armies.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Civil War Eastern Theater, Military History, American History

552 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Mr. Rhea is a nationally acclaimed historian. He has lectured extensively on topics of military history at the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, at several National Military Parks, and at historical societies and civil war round tables across the country. He had been a member of numerous boards of directors of historical societies, magazines, and historic preservation organizations, including the Civil War Library and Museum, Philadelphia, and North and South magazine. Mr. Rhea has appeared on History Channel, A&E Channel, and Discovery Channel in programs related to American history and has written scores of articles for various scholarly and popular publications. His books, which are considered authoritative in their fields, include:

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon Rhea has written a series of four books, providing a chronicle of the bloody fighting in 1864 as Ulysses Grant headed south and Robert E. Lee tried to prevent him from success. From the Wilderness to Spotsylvania Court House to the North Anna River to Cold Harbor. These four books take us through this sanguinary period, day by day. There is no obvious end of one battle and start of the next. It was a continuing slugging match between Confederate and Union forces.

This book begins with Grant pulling away from the trap that Lee had set for him at the North Anna River. The moves in the chess match between Grant and Lee featured both misreading the other. Each missed opportunities to maul the other. Grant cleverly sidestepped Lee from the North Anna line, but did not follow up the march that he had gained on Lee.

Each side moved in response to what they thought the other was doing, and did a slow dance of maneuver toward Cold Harbor. Major cavalry fighting broke out (e.g., Haw's Shop). Both sides saw some problems with generalship at Corps level (Early's hotheadedness led to some foolish attacks on Union positions; Burnside continued his blundering; Warren dithered; Anderson was at the very limit of his competence). The bleeding of Confederate generals slowly reduced the effectiveness of the Army of Northern Virginia, and Lee had to assume more direct control.

Finally, the two armies fought it out at Cold Harbor, with the Union forces being driven back with many casualties.

And here is where Rhea's book is distinctive. He argues that Cold Harbor was not nearly as disastrous to Grant's forces as often thought. Indeed, as a percentage of forces lost to casualties, the Confederate Army was in worse shop after Cold Harbor than Union forces (that is, they had lost more troops percentagewise than Northern forces). Grant could replenish his forces; Lee had a much more difficult time.

At the end of the slugging matches from The Wilderness to Cold Harbor, Grant pondered his next move. And that's how the book ends.

This is well written. Many maps help the reader visualize the movements of the two armies. The order of battle at the end shows the organization of each army, down to brigade and regimental levels. All in all, a worthy addition to the library of students of the Civil War.

[Monte Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the series of books by the author about the 1864 campaign in Virginia between Grant and Lee. I have been very impressed with the previous 3 books but found this book to be not quite as good as the first 3. However, it is still a very good book and tells the story of the movements from the North Anna River to the edges of Richmond in good detail. After reading the book, I had a very good understanding of the problems that both commanders faced, how they dealt with them and where they acted properly as well as where the erred. My problem with the book was it seemed to getting bogged down too many times with extended descriptions of troop alignments. When you keep reading the 152nd Ohio was next to the 66th Indiana who was next to the 33rd NY regiment, it slows the story down. Granted, there needs to be some of this to tell the story, and it might be that due to the series of events that are described this is necessary, but it seemed that it occurred too much in the book. I am writing this not to recommend this book is not worth reading, but rather to show how I felt it differed from the earlier books which I found to be superb. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as these books have given me new insights into these battles and a much better understanding of how both commanders excelled and came up short. I commend Mr. Rhea for his excellent works.

[Brian Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon Rhea’s definitive account of the Overland Campaign continues with this account of the Battle of Cold Harbor. Rhea frankly discusses the successes and failures of both Lee and Grant. Particular criticisms are:

Lee’s slowness to respond to Grant’s moves.

The confused command structure of the Army of the Potomac.

Grant’s and Meade’s failure to determine adequate intelligence about the dispositions of Lee’s army.

Particular strengths noted are:

Lee’s ability to fight defensively.

Grant’s penchant for maneuver.

While the Union assault on July 3rd is rightly regarded as a slaughter, Grant doesn’t deserve the reputation of a mindless butcher that he got from it. While Union losses were severe, there were bloodier battles, such as Antietam and Gettysburg.

The book closes with Grant contemplating another flank march on Lee, with the goal of maneuvering Lee into a siege, after which, (as Lee put it) it would only be a question of time.

[WKOCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

More detailed and academic than Furgurson's work. Rhea is willing to show errors in pretty much all of the commanders involved, while also portraying Grant as less of the butcher that he is often claimed to have been at Cold Harbor. Sheridan probably comes across the worst.

The maps are detailed and plentiful, and Rhea is willing to challenge some widely-held beliefs about the battle - Union soldiers pinning their names to their uniforms before the June 3 charge, Grant's total losses on June 3 (no 7,000 dead in 15 minutes), etc.

[maryellen belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed account

This is a great book for individuals who are really into the civil war. Not so much for the causal reader. The details are great but can get tiresome. I had to put the book down after a while. However with that said, it was exactly what I was looking for regarding the battle of Cold Harbor and the time leading up to it. Thanks

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

7/13/2018

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could continue to brag on Gordon Rhea’s style, but at this point in the series, I’d just be repeating myself. Excellent recount of a horrific battle.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth and, for now, final volume in Rhea's Overland Campaign series. This book covers the disengagement of Grant at North Anna, his crossing of the Pamunkey, the subsequent battles at Totopotomy Creek aka Bethesda Church (and various cavalry engagements like Haw's Shop and Ashland), and culminates with the main fighting at Cold Harbor. The famous assault on the morning of June 3rd is only about 40 pages out of nearly 400. As with the rest of the series there are good maps, an order of battle, and copious citations.

If you liked the first three books in this series then you'll like the fourth about the same. Published over the span of nearly a decade, this series is pretty consistent in tone and quality. This is probably the most important book in the series as it debunks many of the myths and corrects the common misunderstandings related to Cold Harbor. If you read only one book in this series, read this one.

I read the entire series consecutively which I think was mostly a good decision. It took me a little over a month.

A reoccurring theme in this series, especially this book, is the dysfunction of the Union upper command. A good full-length book could probably be written solely on command mistakes by Grant, Meade, and the corp commanders (Hancock, Warren, Sedgwick, Wright, Burnside, Smith, and Sheridan) which could impart valuable leadership lessons to everyone - generals, politicians, coaches, managers.

I'm told that the long-awaited fifth entry in this series, "Crossing the James", should finally be finished this year. It will presumably cover the rest of the fighting at Cold Harbor (June 4-12), Sheridan's Second Raid including Trevilian Station (June 11-12), and the shift of fighting to Petersburg (June 12-16). I'll be looking forward to it.

[R. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Harbor had most of the shortcomings I found in the last Gordon Rhea book I read, which was also part of his four-volume Overland Campaign series. I don't see much need to retreated them.

I found Cold Harbor to be a far more interesting read, though. I'm still not quite certain why that is. I think because my expectations were a little more tempered going in this time. Also, this is his final book of the series. It allows for a sense of finality that didn't leave me wanting more.

I respect the inherent biases that many writers bring to the Civil War. It can be a deeply personal topic, with ideologies that still resonate today. I was raised with an education that included both perspectives, and I appreciate reading books that provide a Southern perspective - at least, an intelligent one. Too many books on my shelves are either written by a Northerner, or by an extremist Southerner who might as well have titled his book "The South Shall Rise Again." I can safely put Gordon Rhea in the same camp as Shelby Foote; a Southerner who can objectively provide a point of view that my reading has otherwise been missing out on.

I was particularly pleased with his analysis of Grant's strategy during the Overland Campaign. Grant had gone and earned himself the nickname of "Butcher" due to all the deaths - both Union and Confederate - that occurred under his leadership. Rhea both acknowledges and derides this appellation as unfair. He does give Robert E. Lee a little too much credit at times, in my opinion, but hey, I'm a Yankee. I'll probably always think that.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excruciating, as was the battle. No matter which side you favor, the insanity of repeated frontal attacks in the American Civil War surely must appall. I've read that West Point trained many commanders on both sides, largely in Napoleonic warfare. Meanwhile weapons technology had advanced to outstrip the effectiveness of such training. The result was slaughter on a vast scale. However, after repeatedly obtaining the same results, why were frontal attacks continued throughout the War? Maybe some were trying to carry out a war of attrition? The futility was apparent early on & were surely seen by 1864, at the time of the Cold Harbor battle(s). I wasn't there, but I know those in command were not stupid (well, most weren't...) I don't get it.

It's been quite a while since I read the book, but I wanted to say what I just said for a long time. I don't remember enough to make many other specific comments except I do recall the book was well researched. Also the author gave evidence of Grant's feelings, enough to show that he wasn't a hard-hearted butcher, as some have accused.

Now I'm thinking I might reread it & maybe add to or change comments above :p

[Gary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a minute-by-minute, detailed review of the Overland Campaign. It packs much more detail than anyone needs to know. But what propels it is the excellent, crisp writing. Best read 20 pages at a time early in the morning. In this volume it is hard yet to comprehend Grant’s greatest regret. But when set in context, it is not a horrible mistake that matches Fredericksburg, Gettysburg Day 3, or Nashville. Cold Harbor makes some sense in the positive context of Grant’s brilliant maneuvering east and south. Unable to smash the Rebel lines, Grant simply went south again, this time in a shocking flank across the James. The author is impressed, justifiably so. And the reader will be impressed with the research, writing, and flow of this book and its series.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very in-depth and thoroughly researched book. Rhea goes into a wealth of detail about every single maneuver and counter-maneuver, tactical decision, reconnaissance, skirmish, and battle involving the two opposing armies, not just during the Battle of Cold Harbor itself, but for the entire previous week leading up to the battle too. If you're a Civil War buff or have an interest in military history and tactics, you'll probably enjoy it. If you're just curious about the Battle of Cold Harbor itself (like I was), you'll learn more than enough to satisfy you.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most interesting part of this book was Rhea's debunking that the final grand assault was a complete bloodletting, which is very much the description I was expecting. Instead, he points out that many of the statistics of casualties were for the entire length of the campaign, but that some journalists or rival generals of the day, used those numbers for a one day total, from either ignorance or possibly political reasons, etc.

[Timothy York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon Rhea is one of the best Civil War History authors out there. No one can take something as complex and complicated as a major civil war battle/campaign and make it comprehensible without having to sacrifice detail. Hi other two books, 'The Battle of the Wilderness' and 'Spottsylvania and Yellow Tavern' are equally well written and researched.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most realistic and excruciatingly detailed look into the logistics, politics, and strategies of warfare that I have ever read. I’m not sure if I could put myself through reading a similar book.

Only pick up this book if you are consistently able to read it, if not you will have to relearn the name and motivation of each officer in each regiment in both armies.

[Rob Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed account of a battle that most pass over as a simply slaughter

[Dirk]

Weakest of the 4 book in his Overland campaign

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched but i feel like he added extra anecdotes unnecessarily

[Matthew Ericson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book, Rhea is the premier historian on the Overland Campaign.

[Sean Chick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rhea's weakest effort so far.

[Richard Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon Rhea is one of the better Civil War authors.