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[483] its object, met this manoeuvre by withdrawing Longstreet's corps from his own left, and directing it towards Cold Harbor, to cover there any attempt to force the passage of the Chickahominy: so that when Wright and Smith arrived, it was no longer the slight force encountered by Sheridan that they were to meet. The enemy was descried in force holding position behind Cold Harbor in a thick wood, to reach which it was necessary to traverse an open field several hundred yards in width. Dispositions being completed towards four o'clock in the afternoon, the assault was made very spiritedly, the troops advancing over the open space under a very severe fire. Both the left of Smith's line and the right of the Sixth Corps succeeded in carrying the first line of rifle-trenches, capturing between them six hundred prisoners. It was, however, found quite impracticable to carry the second line, and the troops rested on their arms for the night, after dispositions to secure what had been gained. The casualties in this action were severe, being upwards of two thousand men in the two corps.

Great as was the loss in this action it secured the possession of Cold Harbor, which it was indispensable to hold; for General Grant had determined there to force the passage of the Chickahominy, and compel Lee to retire within the intrenchments of Richmond. Hancock's corps, which, since the withdrawal of the Sixth Corps from the line of the Tolopotomy, formed the right of the army, was ordered that night from its position, and directed on Cold Harbor, to take position on the left of the Sixth Corps. Warren's corps continued near Bethesda Church, and though holding a line excessively long (nearly four miles in extent), there was still an interval between his left and Smith's right. To close this gap, Warren was directed by General Meade to extend his left, while Burnside's command was to retire altogether from its place on the right of the line, and mass on the right and rear of Warren When Burnside, during the afternoon of the 2d, was in the act of executing this movement, the enemy, detecting it, followed up with a line of battle, drove Burnside's

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