Cold Harbor Intersection and Beulah Church
May 31st and June 1, 1864
Cold Harbor Intersection
Confederate cavalry, specifically Butler's brigade and Fitzhugh Lee's division, reinforced by Clingman's brigade of infantry dug in around the Cold Harbor intersection. The house visible on the center of the picture is in the approximate location of the Cold Harbor Inn - known as such because it served cold meals. You may find the intersection confusing because although not shown here, it forms a triangle. Essentially, the Cold Harbor Road from the west splits in two then is intersected by a north/south road. The Beulah Church is along this road to the north, or left, and the Chickahominy River is to the south, or upper right. Union cavalry converged on the intersection from the forks of the Cold Harbor Road. The more southerly road, shown descending a hill into the distance in the left-center of the picture, was a considerable detour.
The Confederates were no match for Union cavalry with repeating rifles, and after flanking the Confederates to the north, off of the picture to the left, the Yankees took the intersection.
Modern Beulah Church
Dismounted Union cavalry of Merritt's and Custer's divisions deployed along this road north of Cold Harbor in order to protect the vital intersection. Although maps in many books show the Union line refused near this commanding ground with the Confederates attacking south down the road from the right of the picture to the left, Gordon Rhea's book shows the entire Union line deployed along the road opposing an attack along their front.
Although the Confederates planned a two division assault, Hoke's division along the Cold Harbor Road did not advance. (Hoke does not emerge from the campaign looking like a military genius.) Kershaw's division did attack. Eager to prove himself and his newly transferred unit from the South Carolina coast, Col. Keitt (pronounced "kit") advanced at the front of his brigade. He was cut down in the fields visible behind the church signs. After two failed attacks, the Confederates withdrew to their lines. Confederate fire set the church on fire, and it did not survive the battle. The campaign had been especially hard on churches. Later in the day Union troops of the VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac and the XVIII Corps transferred from the Army of the James deployed along this road and advanced on the Confederate position, briefly breaking their line.