An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful and so it was on Saturday afternoon walking at the Cold Harbor Battlefield. It was none of those things 154 years ago in June. The field just beyond the trees was the center of the fighting and the location of the futile attack by Grant across 200 yards of open ground against prepared Confederate troops. Grant lost 6000 men that afternoon, killed, wounded or captured. This field is just outside of the boundary of the park. I hope that one day it can be acquired by the National Park Service to add to the story of this critical battle.
