Military
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The 8th New York Heavy Artillery joined the Army of the Potomac midway through the Overland Campaign to help offset Federal casualties suffered at the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. The regiment, 1,600 men strong, was fresh from service in the defenses of Baltimore and, now fighting as infantry, had seen only limited action before Cold Harbor. Starting from this vicinity on the morning of June 3, 1864, the 8th New York attacked Confederate earthworks 500 yards ahead as part of Grant’s assault to break Lee’s lines. The regiment suffered the highest loss of any regiment at Cold Harbor, with 505 casualties, the vast majority within 30 minutes. A veteran later said of the assault, “The army seemed to melt away like a frost in the July sun.”
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