June 3, 1864:  The second battle of Cold Harbor commenced on June 3, 1864, following the Union’s hard-won victory at Spotsylvania Court House. Union General Ulysses S. Grant encountered entrenched Confederate troops led by General Robert E. Lee near Richmond. After nine days of intense fighting, the Union lost 7,000 soldiers while the Confederates suffered 1,500 casualties. Grant proceeded to besiege Petersburg, marking the final major siege of the war. Eventually, Confederate forces relinquished Petersburg and Richmond on April 2, 1865.

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LOC.GOV: Battle of Cold Harbor

On June 3, 1864, the second battle of Cold Harbor began. After securing a costly victory at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Union General Ulysses S. Grant encountered Confederate troops as he made his way to Richmond. The Confederates, under command of General Robert E. Lee, were entrenched behind earthworks at Cold Harbor, a crossroads ten miles northeast of the Confederate capital. Over the course of the next nine days, the Union lost 7,000 men while the Confederates suffered 1,500 casualties. Grant moved on toward Petersburg and began the last major siege of the war. Confederate forces finally abandoned Petersburg and Richmond on April 2, 1865.

The first battle of Cold Harbor, also called the battle of Gaines’ Mill, took place on June 27, 1862. It was part of the Seven Days’ Battles (June 25-July 1) that ended General George McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign — an early attempt to capture the Confederate capital.