The main area of the eastern campaigns, 1861–65. Use the left sidebar to control the speed of &elipsis;Two engagements of the
American Civil War at Cold Harbor, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital.
The first battle (June 27, 1862), sometimes called the Battle of Gaines's Mill, was part of the Seven Days' Battles (June 25–July 1), which ended the Peninsular Campaign (April 4–July 1), the large-scale Union effort to take Richmond. After fighting at Mechanicsville and Beaver Dam Creek, General George B. McClellan ordered Union troops to high ground between Gaines's Mill and Cold Harbor.
![Ruins of Gaines's Mill, near Cold Harbor, Virginia, photograph by John Reekie, April 1865. [Credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-B8171-0932 DLC)]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/7648.gif)
Ruins of Gaines's Mill, near Cold Harbor, Virginia, photograph by John Reekie, April 1865. [Credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-B8171-0932 DLC)]When Confederate General
Robert E. Lee attacked on June 27, the Union troops were driven back in disorder and withdrew to the south side of the Chickahominy River.
[Credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-B8171-2606 DLC)]" width="400" height="376">Federal earthwork defenses, near Point of Rocks, Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, 1864. [Credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-B8171-2606 DLC)]
![African Americans collecting bones of soldiers, Cold Harbor, Virginia, photograph by John Reekie, &elipsis; [Credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-B8171-7926 DLC)]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/7650.gif)
