Введение
В то же время, не зная об этом Шеридану, Роберт Ли был обеспокоен важным перекрестком дорог у Старой Холодной Гавани, всего в шести милях от столицы Конфедерации – Ричмонда. Он отправил бригаду генерала Мэтью Батлера, состоящую из 2000 всадников, из Механиксвилля, чтобы выяснить, находится ли перекресток под угрозой. Батлер взял с собой 4-й и 5-й кавалерийские полки Южной Каролины из своей бригады (оставив 6-й полк Южной Каролины, который он считал недостаточно опытным) и небольшую бригаду генерала Мартина У. Гэри, состоящую лишь из 7-го кавалерийского полка Южной Каролины. Конфедеративные кавалеристы выступили в середине утра 30 мая и прибыли к ферме Баркера между 1 и 2 часами дня.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Sheridan, Robert E. Lee was concerned about the critical road intersection at Old Cold Harbor, only six miles from the Confederate capital of Richmond. He dispatched Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler's brigade of 2,000 troopers from Mechanicsville to determine whether the intersection was threatened. Butler took with him the 4th and 5th South Carolina Cavalry regiments from his own brigade (leaving behind 6th South Carolina, which he considered to be too inexperienced) and the small brigade of Brig. Gen. Martin W. Gary, which consisted of only the 7th South Carolina Cavalry. The Confederate cavalrymen departed midmorning on May 30 and arrived near the Barker farm between 1 and 2 p. m.
As Torbert surveyed the scene, he realized that three regiments would be insufficient to resist the Confederate brigade, so he ordered the rest of his division to move up. Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt's reserve brigade was the first to arrive, and his 2nd U. S. Cavalry Regiment replaced the 17th Pennsylvania, which had run low on ammunition, in the center of the line. On the right end of the Union line, the 6th New York and the 2nd U. S. pushed back the 4th South Carolina, which was soon reinforced by the Charleston Light Dragoons. The Confederates built breastworks out of logs from Liggan's farm. On the left end, the 9th New York met heavy resistance from the 5th South Carolina, which was protected by the 40 foot banks of the Matadequin. Merritt attempted to outflank the Confederate position with the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Charles L. Leiper. Although they managed to cross the creek to the left of the 9th New York, they were stopped in heavy hand to hand combat with the South Carolinians and Leiper was severely wounded. The stalemate was broken by the arrival of the Michigan Brigade under Brig. Gen. George A. Custer. He deployed his 5th Michigan on the right of Bottoms Bridge Road, the 1st and 7th Michigan on the left, and the 6th Michigan in reserve. Their attack flanked the Confederates on both ends of the line. As Butler's men fled to the rear, his reserve regiment, the 7th South Carolina, counterattacked in an attempt to maintain the line. The superior Union numbers and firepower—the Michiganders were armed with Spencer repeating rifles and Torbert had deployed horse artillery, a weapon that Butler did not have available—carried the day. Although almost all the fighting in the battle was dismounted, Col. Frank A. Haskell and Maj. Edward M. Boykin (cousin of the famous Confederate diarist, Mary Chesnut) led the 7th on horseback, and both were severely wounded during the charge. The 20th Georgia Battalion arrived at the end of the battle and were almost swamped by their colleagues racing away on horseback. The Union troopers pursued the retreating Confederates with enthusiasm. Butler eventually rallied his men at Old Cold Harbor and Torbert's men bivouacked about 1.5 miles northeast of the intersection.
Когда Торберт осмотрел местность, он понял, что трех полков будет недостаточно для сдерживания бригады конфедератов, и приказал остальной части своей дивизии выдвинуться вперед. Первой прибыла резервная бригада генерала Уэсли Мерритта, и её 2-й кавалерийский полк США сменил 17-й Пенсильванский полк, у которого закончились боеприпасы, в центре линии. На правом фланге линии Союза 6-й Нью-Йоркский и 2-й кавалерийский полк США оттеснили 4-й полк Южной Каролины, который вскоре был подкреплен Чарльстонскими легкими драгунами. Конфедераты построили полевые укрепления из бревен с фермы Лиггана. На левом фланге 9-й Нью-Йоркский полк столкнулся с ожесточенным сопротивлением со стороны 5-го полка Южной Каролины, который был защищен 12-метровыми берегами реки Матадекин. Мерритт попытался обойти позиции конфедератов с помощью 6-го Пенсильванского кавалерийского полка под командованием капитана Чарльза Л. Лейпера. Хотя им удалось форсировать ручей слева от 9-го Нью-Йоркского полка, они были остановлены в жестоком рукопашном бою с южнокаролинцами, и Лейпер был тяжело ранен. Затянувшееся противостояние было прервано прибытием бригады Мичигана под командованием бригадного генерала Джорджа А. Кастера. Он развернул свой 5-й Мичиганский полк справа от дороги Боттомс-Бридж-роуд, 1-й и 7-й Мичиганские полки слева, а 6-й Мичиганский полк оставил в резерве. Их атака обошла конфедератов с обоих флангов. Когда люди Батлера начали отступать, его резервный полк, 7-й полк Южной Каролины, предпринял контратаку, пытаясь удержать линию. Превосходство в численности и огневой мощи Союза – мичиганцы были вооружены винтовками системы Спенсера с повторным заряжанием, а Торберт развернул конную артиллерию, которой у Батлера не было – решило исход сражения. Хотя почти все бои в сражении велись спешенными, полковник Фрэнк А. Хаскелл и майор Эдвард М. Бойкин (двоюродный брат известного конфедеративного дневникописца Мэри Чеснут) возглавили 7-й полк верхом, и оба были тяжело ранены во время атаки. 20-й батальон Джорджии прибыл к концу сражения и едва не был затоплен потоком своих товарищей, отступающих верхом. Всадники Союза с энтузиазмом преследовали отступающих конфедератов. Батлер в конце концов собрал своих людей у Старой Холодной Гавани, а люди Торберта разбили лагерь примерно в 2,4 километрах к северо-востоку от перекрестка.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Sheridan, Robert E. Lee was concerned about the critical road intersection at Old Cold Harbor, only six miles from the Confederate capital of Richmond. He dispatched Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler's brigade of 2,000 troopers from Mechanicsville to determine whether the intersection was threatened. Butler took with him the 4th and 5th South Carolina Cavalry regiments from his own brigade (leaving behind 6th South Carolina, which he considered to be too inexperienced) and the small brigade of Brig. Gen. Martin W. Gary, which consisted of only the 7th South Carolina Cavalry. The Confederate cavalrymen departed midmorning on May 30 and arrived near the Barker farm between 1 and 2 p. m.
As Torbert surveyed the scene, he realized that three regiments would be insufficient to resist the Confederate brigade, so he ordered the rest of his division to move up. Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt's reserve brigade was the first to arrive, and his 2nd U. S. Cavalry Regiment replaced the 17th Pennsylvania, which had run low on ammunition, in the center of the line. On the right end of the Union line, the 6th New York and the 2nd U. S. pushed back the 4th South Carolina, which was soon reinforced by the Charleston Light Dragoons. The Confederates built breastworks out of logs from Liggan's farm. On the left end, the 9th New York met heavy resistance from the 5th South Carolina, which was protected by the 40 foot banks of the Matadequin. Merritt attempted to outflank the Confederate position with the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Charles L. Leiper. Although they managed to cross the creek to the left of the 9th New York, they were stopped in heavy hand to hand combat with the South Carolinians and Leiper was severely wounded. The stalemate was broken by the arrival of the Michigan Brigade under Brig. Gen. George A. Custer. He deployed his 5th Michigan on the right of Bottoms Bridge Road, the 1st and 7th Michigan on the left, and the 6th Michigan in reserve. Their attack flanked the Confederates on both ends of the line. As Butler's men fled to the rear, his reserve regiment, the 7th South Carolina, counterattacked in an attempt to maintain the line. The superior Union numbers and firepower—the Michiganders were armed with Spencer repeating rifles and Torbert had deployed horse artillery, a weapon that Butler did not have available—carried the day. Although almost all the fighting in the battle was dismounted, Col. Frank A. Haskell and Maj. Edward M. Boykin (cousin of the famous Confederate diarist, Mary Chesnut) led the 7th on horseback, and both were severely wounded during the charge. The 20th Georgia Battalion arrived at the end of the battle and were almost swamped by their colleagues racing away on horseback. The Union troopers pursued the retreating Confederates with enthusiasm. Butler eventually rallied his men at Old Cold Harbor and Torbert's men bivouacked about 1.5 miles northeast of the intersection.
Последствия
Хотя Батлер успешно собрал информацию, необходимую Роберту Ли, конница Конфедерации во второй раз за три дня – у Хоукс-Шоп и Матадекин-Крик – была отброшена назад отрядами Союза, и в обоих случаях бригада Кастера обеспечила решающую силу, необходимую для достижения успеха. Потери Союза составили около 90 человек, а Конфедерации – 188.