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Prior to the US Civil War Battle of Cold Harbor in June of 1864, General Grant had not ordered a reconnaissance of the terrain. A fundamental action when undertaking a major assault. Therefore when three of his corps began their assault against the enemy they knew nothing about the terrain nor the Confederate positions and their strength. The battle was a horrible defeat for the Union.

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Q: What was one major error the Union made at the US Civil War Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864?
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What caused the failure of the first day of attack by the Union at Cold Harbor?

Soon after the beginning of the Battle of Cold Harbor, a bad day was in store for Union troops. The frontal assault by the Union against the fortifications resulted in heavy Union casualties. The Union attack on Cold Harbor was doomed in that Union generals Grant and Meade failed to take time to evaluate the parapet designed by Confederate General Lee. Also, for some reason both Union generals failed to coordinate their frontal assaults. These failures resulted in the charging Union troops to trapped by firearms of Southern soldiers and the crossfire of Southern artillery. The results on the first day were dreadful for the Union. It is estimated that 7,000 Union troops were killed or wounded in only one hour. This edit corrects an error previously made on the original answer.


What generals were leaders of the US Civil War Battle of Cold Harbor?

That was Grant mounting a major assault against Lee - a costly failure, and the biggest mistake of Grant's career, as he admitted in his memoirs. After that, he settled in for the nine-month Siege of Petersburg - also costly, but not a failure. It brought Lee's surrender, and ended the Civil War.


Why did the Confederates fire at Fort Sumter?

The Confederates attacked the federal Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor of South Carolina because its commander, Major Anderson refused to surrender. Attacking the fort was an error as it brought on the US Civil War.


When did Union General Charles Garrison Harker graduate from West Point?

Union General Charles Garrison Harker graduated from West Point in 1858. He was ranked 16th in a graduating class of 27 cadets. Harker saw most of his US Civil War action in the Western Theater. He was killed in 1864 at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain during the Atlanta campaign. In this battle, General Sherman made the error of conducting a frontal assault on fortified positions of General Joseph Johnston.


What were the results at the end of the US Civil War Battle of Shiloh?

The Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862 was a shock to most Americans. It was in this battle that the huge costs of war were realized. It was a two day battle that was a heavy cost in casualties for both sides. The Union, with reinforcements the night before the second day of battle, won the day. There were several items of note concerning this battle in the Western Theater of the US Civil War.Such as:* Rebel forces under General Albert Sidney Johnston, showed how rail transportation could bring forth a huge concentration of forces to attack a surprised Union army;* Southern General Albert S. Johnston, an excellent commander was killed on day one of the battle;* The value of river transport by Union forces proved to be an effective to move troops;* The Union commander, General US Grant, was seriously faulted for not having dug fortifications upon arrival at Pittsburgh landing;* Grant's commanding officer, General Henry Halleck, wanted Grant removed for this error and Grant's drinking problem became the focus of newspaper attention; and* Grant's job was saved by President Lincoln's intervention.


How did General Lee win the Battle of Cold Harbor?

Grant pushed his men in charge after charge against Lee's fortified lines. The attacks were broken up quickly, with much slaughter on the Union side. Grant had to admit defeat, and withdrew. Grant made the fatal error of frontal assaults as mentioned above. His losses were 7,000 men in less than a half hour.


What reporting error may have saved the Battle of Shiloh for the Union?

As the first day of battle at Pittsburg Landing was coming to a close, the now in charge Confederate General Beauregard called off the attack. He had received an erroneous report that Federal reinforcements were too faraway to help US Grant's beleaguered troops. This was a fatal error by Beauregard. The reinforcements, under General Buell were close by and landed the evening of the first day of battle.


Who made the strategic error in the battle of Yorktown?

General George Cornwallis made the strategic battle in the battle of Yorktown.


What is the harbor?

pearl harbor is an island in Hawaii that the Japanese bombed.Most probably a spelling error of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where the United States Navy suffered serious losses in a surprise attack by Japan in December 1941.


What caused Union General William Rosencrans to retreat at the US Civil War Battle of Chickamauga?

As the epic US Civil War Battle of Chickamauga developed General Rosencrans countered Confederate Bragg's plan to overlap his north flank causing the Confederates to resort to frontal assaults. One assault led by General James Longstreet was a success because Rosencrans had made the error of leaving a gap in one of his lines. This caused Rosencrans' right wing of his army to collapse. On September 22, 1863, Rosencrans was forced to retreat to Chattanooga.


What is the Pearl Harbor?

pearl harbor is an island in Hawaii that the Japanese bombed.Most probably a spelling error of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where the United States Navy suffered serious losses in a surprise attack by Japan in December 1941.


How did Confederate General James Longstreet help the Confederates to a victory at the Battle of Chickamauga?

When Confederate General Braxton Bragg chose to resort to frontal assaults at the Battle of Chickamauga, General James Longstreet led a successful assault on September 20, 1863. It was an overwhelming breakthrough of the Union lines partly due to Union General Rosencrans' error had left a gap in his lines. Longstreet's forces caused the Union's right line to collapse.