The image below is from an American Battlefield Trust sign near the Confederate left flank near the Old Cold Harbor Crossroads provides an overview of the final phase of the battle. With all of his forces on the battlefield Lee would launch his largest assault of the Civil War with an attack on Porter’s Corps across the entire line at 7:00 PM. D.H. Hill and Ewell attacked Sykes on the Confederate left and drove them off the ridge. Longstreet’s attack on the far right was through particularly difficult terrain and withering Union artillery fire. John Bell Hood and Evander Law’s brigades were on Longstreet’s left. Lee met with Hood ordering him forward with instructions that the Union line must be broken.

Two maps of the attack on this portion of Lee’s right by Longstreet and Whiting’s divisions are shown below (they appear on signs on the battlefield). The attack is interpreted by the “Decisive Moment” sign on the trail below. Hood attacked with the 1st, 4th, and 5th TX, the 18th GA and the Hampton Legion. Law would command the 2nd and 11th MS (a monument to this regiment was shown in the previous post), 4th AL, and 6th NC. They would be opposed by George Morell’s division. Hood and Law’s men charged without firing and broke the first Union defensive line at the bottom of the ridge. As the Federal first line fell back, with the Rebels right behind them, they made it difficult for the second and third lines to fire on the Confederates. As a result, the second and third lines were overrun as well, and 14 artillery pieces were captured at the top of the ridge. In the process Hood and Law’s brigades suffered 1,018 casualties, a quarter of the men engaged. The 4th TX suffered 570 of those casualties including all of their field level officers. Longstreet’s men finally pushed through the swamp on the far right and the Union left collapsed. A counterattack by the 5th US Cavalry to attempt to recover the guns failed. In total Porter lost 22 guns. The Federal line had broken on the left, right, and center and fell back toward the river as darkness ended the battle.

Thomas Meagher’s and William French’s brigades from Sumner’s II Corps crossed the river and provided reinforcements as Porter retreated toward the river providing cover for his withdrawal. The battle was costly for both sides Porter lost 894 killed, 3,114 wounded and 2,829 captured for a total of 6,837 casualties. The Confederates had 1,483 killed, 6,402 wounded, and 108 missing for a total of 7,993 casualties. It would be the costliest battle of the Seven Days. Just before midnight McClellan would meet with his generals and informed them that they would be retreating to the James River.

The signs below are present in the parking lot

The sign below which was present during my last visit several years ago was missing in July of 2024.

Looking from the kiosk to the left of the road at the first sign for the Breakthrough Trail in the distance.

The next four pictures were taken from the Watt house of the field to the east.

The first sign on the trail is just outside the woods

A small “The Battles Begins” marker should have been between the two signs but I could not locate it. Almost all of the smaller signs that are listed on the Historical Marker Database on the trail with a few exceptions appear to have been removed.

I initially turned to the left up the hill where the signs below were located.

I then retraced my path back down the hill to take the trail to the Alabama Monument and Battlefield Overlook.

The trail then emerges from the woods and makes a right-hand turn where the Watt Farm Road sign is located.

There is only one sign present at the overlook. The two smaller signs listed as being here in the Historical Marker Database “Cavalry Charge” and “Mistaken Identity” were not present.

I then retraced my steps back along the fence to the parking lot. The small signs “Union Artillery”, “Federals Collapse” and “Confederate Pursuit” listed in the Historical Marker Database were not present on the walk back to the parking lot.

This completed the Battlefield Loop Trail. The remainder of the signs shown below are to the east on the way to and south of the Old Cold Harbor crossroads.

Walking Trails at Gaines Mill. There is also a Confederate Attack Trail (link to brochure) which I have not yet walked. It has posts in the ground but no signs that I am aware of.

Next- Garnett’s and Golding’s (Gouldins) Farm

Source

Richmond Shall Not Be Taken The Seven Days’ Battles June 25- July 1, 1862 by Doug Crenshaw