[The following is from the Civil War diary of Samuel Clear, a Union soldier.]
Tuesday, June 7th – Cold Harbor
At 12 O’clock this morning they made a long determined charge, but the boys never wavered. We could hear the Reb officers shouting forward, forward. On they came but it was only to be mowed down by the Thousand. We never thought of getting drove out, I rather enjoyed it and I believe the rest of the boys did also. At daylight this morning all was quiet. The enemy advanced a white Flag, asking permission to bury their dead, which was granted. We had an armistice of two hours. The quietness was really oppressive, It positively made us feel lonesome, after a continual racket day and night for so long.
We sit on the works and let our legs dangle over on the front and watch the Johnnies carry off their dead comrades in silence, but in a great hurry. Some of them lay dead within twenty feet of our works – the live Rebel looks bad enough in his old torn, ragged Butternut suit, but a dead Rebel looks horrible all swelled up and black in the face. After they were through there was nothing left but stains of Blood, broken and twisted guns, old hats, canteens, every one of them reminders of the death and carnage that reigned a few short hours before.
When the 2 hours was up we got back in our holes and they did the same. A large gun at the fort gave one shot and both sides passed a few but no damage was done. Things quieted down except the continual crack of the Sharpshooters rifles. They are busy from daylight until dark, they hide in trees, behind stumps, along banks, or where ever they can protect themselves and see their enemies.
Source:
Chisholm, Daniel, et al. “Diary.” The Civil War Notebook of Daniel Chisholm: A Chronicle of Daily Life in the Union Army, 1864-1865. Ballantine Books, 1990. 21-2. Print.
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