Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half from that place, on the Old Church road.  The morning of the 31st I visited him to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being reinforced by infantry.  I met Torbert at Custer’s headquarters, and found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture Cold Harbor, and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, at once giving directions for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg to come forward to Torbert’s support with such troops as he could spare from the duty with which he had been charged.

Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt’s brigade first, followed by Custer’s, on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin’s brigade was detached, and marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in on the right and rear of the enemy’s line, which was posted in front of the crossroads.  Devin was unable to carry his part of the programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right, and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer’s brigade on Merritt’s left so as to connect with Devin.  The whole division was now in line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry, supported by Clingman’s brigade from Hoke’s division of infantry; and from the Confederate breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and earth, a heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible to withstand.  None of Gregg’s division had yet arrived, and so stubborn was the enemy’s resistance that I began to doubt our ability to carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy’s left, and being directed to execute his proposition, he carried it to a most successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry.  Just as these two regiments passed around the enemy’s left and attacked his rear, the remainder of the division assailed him in front.  This manoeuvre of Merritt’s stampeded the Confederates, and the defenses falling into our hands easily, we pushed ahead on the Bottom’s bridge road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor.

Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our nearest infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies’s brigade of cavalry, which arrived after the fight.  My isolated position therefore made me a little uneasy.  I felt convinced that the enemy would attempt to regain the place, for it was of as much importance to him as to us, and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he fully appreciated this.  My uneasiness increased as the day grew late, for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke’s division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near at hand, interposing