Exploring Totopotomoy

The first time I visit the Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield at Rural Plains, it’s an unseasonably mild day in late winter. I’m taking pictures for the upcoming Emerging Civil War Series book No Turning Back, so I can’t stay long because I have the entire Overland Campaign to photograph. But I plan to come back for […]

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“If this army is unable to resist Grant…” The Confederates Move To Cold Harbor

After the engagements along Totopotomoy Creek and Bethesda Church, Grant set his sights on another crossroads–one that could ultimately decide the campaign–and it was once again a seemingly innocent crossroads–by the name of Cold Harbor. As Grant’s cavalry, under the fireball Philip Sheridan, moved toward this road network, the Confederates were not idle either.

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The Road to Cold Harbor

The Union cavalrymen had deftly parried the attack of their counterparts the previous afternoon. Known as The Battle of Old Church or The Battle of Matadequin Creek, Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert’s brigades had turned back a reconnaissance in force led by Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler. Torbert’s victory, however, was not complete. The gray horsemen […]

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Skirmish at Old Church

Following the Battle of Haw’s Shop, Philip Sheridan withdrew his blue cavalrymen to the southeast to the vicinity of Old Church. While there he was to protect the approaches to the Federals’ new supply depot at White House Landing on the Pamunkey and to secure a route of advance that would allow reinforcements from the Army […]

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Bethesda Church

An excerpt from Hurricane from the Heavens, part of the Emerging Civil War Series.  In accordance with orders from General Lee, I moved to the right,” wrote Jubal Early, tasked with striking the Union left. “At this point [Bethesda Church], the enemy was encountered.” “Ol’ Jube” could not miss an opportunity to strike at the Union […]

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Recollections from a New York Cavalryman

May 29, 1864 was a day of consolidation for the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. Each side maneuvered into positions facing each other along Totopotomoy Creek. There was also little rest for the tired troopers of the Yankee Cavalry Corps. While out on picket duty,  Newel Cheney, an officer in […]

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The Battle of Dallas: “The Massacre of Noble Men”

The situation in “The Hell Hole” was misery. To lift your head above the trench top was inviting certain death, and the stench and humidity were becoming overwhelming in the late-May heat. Twice Sherman attempted assaults, and twice they were repulsed with heavy losses. On May 28, Johnston expected another move, perhaps for Sherman to […]

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Totopotomoy Creek

Excerpted from Hurricane from the Heavens by Daniel T. Davis and Phillip S. Greenwalt: Grant later wrote, “The streams were numerous…with impenetrable growth of trees and underbrush” as his army crossed the Pamunkey onto the Tidewater Peninsula of Virginia. The Union commander in chief had described this area of Virginia perfectly. That next stream was […]

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Haw’s Shop in Pictures

On May 28, 1864, as the Army of the Potomac crossed the Pamunkey River, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan commanding the Cavalry Corps was given the assignment to protect the Yankee bridgehead and to report back on any Confederate movements. With only the division of Brig. Gen. David Gregg available for his mission, Sheridan struck out […]

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