“If pressed to select the single most desirable [land] on any battlefield... Nowhere else does a single [area] of land offer so much relating to a pair of major battles.”
Historian Gary Gallagher
Some of the most important unprotected battlefield land in the United States, hundreds of critical acres at the site of both the Battle of Gaines’ Mill and the Battle of Cold Harbor, is now saved forever. One of the largest preservation efforts in the history of the Trust, these 600+ acres more than double the amount of hallowed ground the Trust has protected on these irreplaceable battlefields, adding to more than 30,000 acres saved throughout Virginia and 60,000 acres saved nationwide.
In 1862, this land witnessed Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee launch one of the largest frontal assaults in the Civil War. In 1864, it saw Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant order one of the war’s bloodiest attacks. Across two battles, thousands of men made the ultimate sacrifice on these battlefields.
More than 25 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust set out to save the overlapping battlefields of Gaines’ Mill and Cold Harbor in Virginia. By 2020, 655 acres had already been preserved when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity emerged: more than 600 additional acres of pristine battlefield land became available. With deep-pocketed developers closing in, swift action was essential.
Our friend and renowned historian Ed Bearss once said:“Even if you have to sell every other piece of battlefield land the Trust has ever saved in order to preserve this land, you should do it. It’s that important!” Now, generations to come will understand these two battles and appreciate history in a way only a battlefield can offer.
The Battle of Gaines’ Mill
On June 27, 1862, just east of Richmond, Virginia, Union Gen. Fitz John Porter’s V Corps found itself alone and outnumbered. With their backs to the Chickahominy River, Porter’s 34,000 men dug in near a modest structure known as Gaines’ Mill. Facing them was a determined Confederate force of nearly 60,000 under the newly appointed Gen. Robert E. Lee. This clash would become the largest Confederate frontal assault of the Civil War and mark Lee’s first major victory as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Despite being outnumbered, Porter’s troops held firm against repeated assaults throughout the day. But the arrival of Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops allowed Lee to launch a massive, coordinated twilight attack that ultimately overran the Union position. The cost was staggering: 15,000 casualties in just six hours. The bravery of those men—fighting in marshes, woods, and over open farmland—still echoes across the land today.
The Battle of Cold Harbor
Fast forward to June 1, 1864. Nearly two years after Gaines’ Mill, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered his forces to engage once more on these blood-soaked fields during the Overland Campaign. The Battle of Cold Harbor, taking place just 10 miles northeast of Richmond and overlapping portions of the 1862 battleground, was characterized by entrenched lines, devastating frontal assaults and some of the highest casualty rates of the war.
Grant’s repeated attempts to break the Confederate defenses culminated in a massive but futile attack on June 3. Union forces suffered thousands of casualties in under an hour. It was a sobering moment for Grant and a grim reminder of the cost of war. Still, he did not retreat. Instead, he repositioned his army and crossed the James River, advancing toward Petersburg in what would become the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.
The Trust’s work is far from over, at Gaines’ Mill, Cold Harbor and other battlefields around the country. The Trust recently launched an opportunity to preserve two more irreplaceable sites : the last unprotected tract at Appomattox Court House and the Crossroads at Cold Harbor. Together, these hallowed acres are valued at $680,000 — but with powerful grants and a $4-to-$1 match in place, we only need to raise $172,500 to secure them. Help us build on this historic victory—make your gift today and protect even more of America’s sacred ground.
