June 5,
1864
Battle
of Cold Harbor
Virginia
May
31-June 12, 1864
Day 5: The stalemate continues, as
both sides extend and strengthen their fortifications. All day, messages are passed back and forth
over the lines as the commanders of each army dickers with the other over the question
of a truce to care for the wounded.
 |
| Union Army camps at Cold Harbor |
---Shenandoah Valley: Battle of
Piedmont,
Virginia---As Maj. Gen. David Hunter (replacing the hapless Franz Sigel) pushes
south, up the Shenandoah Valley, he is opposed by very few Confederate
troops. There are only a small force of
mostly cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Imboden and assorted odds and ends. Gen. Lee orders Gen. Willliam “Grumble”
Jones, near Lynchburg, to march to Imboden’s aid. Grumble Jones was coming up from Lynchburg
with over 4,000 men, assuming command of the aggregate (about 5,500 men), and
decides to make a stand near Piedmont, as Hunter turns south from Port Republic
and heads toward Staunton. The
Southerners are in good positions on a ridge, with Imboden’s dismounted cavalry
holding the right flank at right angles to the main line, thus enabling
crossfire against any advancing force.
Hunter sends forth Sullivan’s division of infantry against the Rebel
left flank, and the attack falters. The
Rebels counterattack, and a realignment of their lines leaves a gap on the
line. Col. William Ely of the 18th
Vermont spots the gap and acquires two howitzers to fire into it. The Union line goes forward and the
Confederates break. At a crucial moment,
while rallying his troops, Grumble Jones is shot through the head, dying
instantly. Brig. Gen. Vaughn takes
command of the Rebels, and Imboden holds a line for a while to prevent the
total destruction of the Rebel force. As
it is, Maj. Gen. Julius Stahel’s Union cavalry scoop up nearly 1,000
Confederates as prisoners. The way to
Staunton is now open. Union Victory. Losses:
Union, 780; Confederate, 1,600.
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