Diary of Lt. Henry Clay Christiancy


June 3, (Friday) Our line this a.m. was 2d Corps on the left, 6th, 18th, 5th, and 9th Corps. The 5th did not connect with the 18th except by pickets until noon when (Birney’s?) 3d Division 2d Corps was moved from the left, and made the connection. The attack commenced along the whole line at 4:30 a.m., and continued until 12 noon, but nothing was accomplished. Barlow’s 1st Div. 2d Corps, on the extreme left, carried the works in front of them with one color and for guns about 5:30 a.m. but were driven back again almost immediately, failing to bring off the guns, but brought off 200 prisoners. They left 200 men in enemy’s works who could not get off, as the enemy was in such a a position as to cut them to pieces if they attempted; neither could the enemy drive them out. All along the rest of the line we were repulsed and our hopes since yesterday foot up to 5000 it is said. There was sharp firing on left about 8 p.m., occasionally an attack of the enemy on Gibbons front who were repulsed in a few minutes.

June 4, 1864 (Saturday) Everything quiet during the day; very little firing today. The 4th Corps, moved from left, relieved Birney’s division in the evening. Our troops digging close up to enemy’s lines during night.

June 5, 1864 (Sunday) Everything quiet during the day. Our line was rather shortened last night. The enemy attacked (?Russell’s?) Division, 6th Corps about 8:15 p.m., and also along the 2d Corps, but after steady musketry fighting for twenty minutes were everywhere repulsed.

June 6, 1864 (Monday) Gen. Warren’s 5th Corps was moved from right and (illegible word) in rear of Custer on road from Old Church to Cold Harbor, two miles from latter place. Birney’s 3d Division 2d Corps was moved to the extreme left; its left resting on the Chickahominy at Barkin’s (?Mills?) above Sumner’s Upper Bridge/ All quiet during the day, skirmishing going on however. Our lines are about thirty or forty yards apart, and there’s so much firing during the day. Flag of truce from Gen’l Lee to Gen’l Grant this a.m. regarding a truce to bury dead, ect.

June 7th, 1864 (Tuesday) Nothing going on all day, but skirmishing. A truce to bury dead and carry off wounded from 6 o’clk to 8 o’clk in evening. Gen. Sheridan gone off on another rail towards (name of place erased. Probably a precaution lest the writer become a prisoner and the information become known to the enemy.)


[Source: Henry Clay Christiancy Diary, Accession #10070, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Virginia]