Description: Civil War

Battle of Cold Harbor 8th New Jersey Volunteers Handwritten Account

2pp DS signed by Major Virgil M. Healy (died 1871), commanding officer of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers, as "Virgil M. Healy" at the bottom of the second page. Docketed on the lightly soiled fourth page. The "Congress" embossed cream blue-lined bifold paper is in near fine condition, with expected light paper folds and a few discolored spots. Each page measures 7.75" x 9.75."

The report addressed to W.J. Rusling, written in a "Camp near Petersburg, Va." on August 8, 1864, contains a detailed record of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers' movements during the Battle of Cold Harbor. Healy was complying with Army of the Potomac Special Orders No. 209, dated August 5, 1864, which ordered all commanders to report their troop movements during the recent campaign.

Part of U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign, the Battle of Cold Harbor was actually a series of Union frontal attacks launched against Confederate lines near Mechanicsville, Virginia between May 31-June 12, 1864. This was a particularly busy and bloody period of the Civil War, and Cold Harbor was one of its costliest battles, with approximately 18,000 casualties on both sides. The Battle of Cold Harbor was part of a larger effort to sever enemy supply lines and encircle the Confederate capital at Richmond. Yet Grant himself later regretted the battle, and most historians today agree it was a futile engagement.

Healy's account provides an almost day-by-day record of the 13-day Battle of Cold Harbor. The 8th New Jersey Volunteers forded Totopotomoy Creek on May 31, 1864, crossing Confederate lines and destroying a gun nest. During the rest of the engagement at Cold Harbor, the 8th New Jersey Volunteers performed mostly support roles, like guarding rear lines and building fortifications.

Reproduced in part, with untouched spelling:

"May 31st The regiment was order to advance across Totopotamay creek, which it did, capturing the enemy's first line of works and driving him to a securely entrenched position, where we formed in line of battle, in a sunken road in front of their works, and silenced a battery of 4 guns, being within easy range. The casualties of this day were one (1) commissioned officer and four (4) enlisted men killed and one (1) enlisted man missing.



June 2nd Marched to Coal Harbor; on the 3rd were in the supporting column, during the battle of that day; on the 4th were detailed as guard in rear of the line of battle; on the 5th march to Barkers Mills and built works; one the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th, remained in the same position at Barkers Mills, near Coal Harbor. The only casualty occurring during the time there was one (1) enlisted man wounded."

Healy's frequent references to "works" anticipate the trench warfare of the Siege of Petersburg. During this 9-month-long siege beginning the following week, Union forces would construct over 30 miles of trenches around the Confederate stronghold of Petersburg. Healy's account also illustrates the high casualty rates. In the regiment's single May 31st engagement, it lost 30% of its total fatalities recorded in May-June, 1864. According to a regimental history of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers, 15 soldiers were killed, 140 were wounded, and 25 went missing during that period.



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