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 between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my position.  In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade that I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command hold it, and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night.  The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at every hazard.  General Grant had expected that a severe battle would have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated, no preparation had been made for its permanent occupancy.  No time was to be lost, therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced march, by Grant’s directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival to relieve my cavalry.

The moment Meade’s order was received, I directed a reoccupation of Cold Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert’s command was already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of the 31st, this force speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the place before daylight; both our departure and return having been effected without the enemy being aware of our movements.  We now found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense, they being made available