I watched Mike Gorman's lecture on Gaines Mill, and it was well rounded from a Union and Confederate perspective. I was patiently waiting for the 160th video on Cold Harbor, and was excited to see him as the presenter. After watching it though, it did seem like revisionist history, and a sole focus on the Union side. I hope future 160 episodes capture what both sides went through.
My great grandfather (48th PA) was captured at Cold Harbor, recorded as being a prisoner on June 6th and sent to Andersonville. He just turned 18 and this was his first battle. I've always imagined he was captured recovering dead and wounded but have no evidence of this.
Not likely captured doing a recovery, because that was usually under the White Flag. Most likely during the time of active combat. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing out what may not be clear in the video.
No, it's war. Both sides had bad battle plans that led to getting allot of their own troops killed...Bragg killed more confedrates soldiers than anyone. It's just war, and when you don't follow orders (right or wrong) this happens
His interpretation that the Confederate works at Cold Harbor were a “security blanket” and no help at all on the defense is bizarre. I wonder if his interpretation would be the same regarding the Union earthworks on Culp’s Hill during the fighting on July 2 and 3 at Gettysburg.
To say that breast works didn't change the strategy and reality of civil war combat seems to go against our basic understanding of the war.Fredricksburg,Picketts charge,Malvern Hill ,caused the soldiers to start diggng any chance they had from what i have read.The mini ball and grooved barrel were basic innovations also.
Those poor soldiers having to live the rest of their lives with all the trauma they have witnessed. The only help help were the others who went through it too. Blue or Gray they all suffered.
Interesting assessment of the battle on the 3rd. As a history nerd (with an emphasis on the nerd part), it always seemed sad to me because it seemed like a foreshadowing of WW1 half a century later. Disorganized attack. Bad intel on what they were moving into. A push, push, push attitude being driven by political objectives. Bodies pile up quickly and morale is sapped. The attack fails. I'm hoping to see here in a few days the part about the Army of the Potomac crossing the James River. That must have been a hell of an event to witness. Great stuff as always guys.
Superb and illuminating episode featuring Ranger Mike Gorman. His vivid, tense and masterful narrative was as almost the re-living of the turbulent and complex affair that was June 3rd 1864; and one can almost envisage the psychological incoherence in the Meade and Grant relationship replayed as the powerful drama of a Hollywood production or stage play. Thank you to the team at the American Battlefield Trust and especial thanks to Ranger Mike Gorman.
I would definitely like to hear from other accredited historians about this battle. This is a different account than I have ever heard and I’ve studied much on the Civil War. Not saying he’s wrong, but would like to hear from the battlefield trust team about this account.
I met Gorman last year in Petersburg and got into it a bit with him. Sorry, but the dude is a completely biased joke, and way too biased to be a Park Ranger in my opinion. Once you meet him you'll understand that he is right and you are wrong, no matter what you say. It was disappointing, but not surprising actually. It's happening at Gettysburg too. It's a real shame for me, because as someone who has been a Civil War nerd since I was about 13, it's guys like this and some others who are turning me off the whole hobby of mine and I'm starting to lose interest in it all. It's rather depressing.
It's not his interpretation actually, but rather his fantasy revisionism, totally caked and layered in a Grant and Union bias he doesn't even attempt to hide, even when you meet him in person. Of course all the historians, even Grant and the soldiers who were actually there were wrong about what they saw and witnessed. But Mike's right of course, he was there don't you know.
I will need to reconsider future donations and possibly go back and amend my trust instructions on disbursements after my passing if the American Battlefield Trust indeed approves and backs this type of revisionist historical fiction - this park ranger is not only wrong he is blatantly biased - sorry I’ll trust those were at the battle rather than this tripe
Wow, I'm sure this gross misinterpretation of his presentation has nothing to do with particular feelings you might have towards the side that lost the war.
Well I’d use the George Pickett train of thought on the cold harbor situation, when he was asked about the southern failure at Gettysburg he said “I think the Yankees had something to do with it”. In the case of the northern failure at Cold Harbor, I’d say, “ the reb army had something to do with it”.
@@herecomesaregular8418 The facts are the facts no matter where you are born or who you favor in a war! Grant took a beating at Cold Harbor just as Lee did at Picketts Charge. You cannot change history only learn from. Anything else is a disservice to those who suffered its effects.
Gorman is a biased joke. I sussed that out last year when I met him at Petersburg and got into it with him. He's also always right, and you're always wrong, no matter what, basically. He's extremely annoying.
@@craigcolandro2781 I most hearty agree my friend he is out to tell his “new” version of history no matter what the facts are. This is why I no longer go on tours led by the Park Service or take visitors to there sites for led tours anywhere in Virginia . I want history not the modernist opinion and view of history
That Meade was still in 'command' was the result of him being an honorable gentleman and military man - while Grant was not a person of arragance who might really pull rank. So when Lincoln brought Grant from the west to command of the whole Union Army this was the result. Just my take on it?
I got into a bit of an argument with Mike last October when he was doing some tours of sites for the Image Of War Seminar at Petersburg. Funny enough, it happened at the Crater. He started with the Grant worship and Lee bashing with me, and I gave it right back to him. He kept insisting the same stuff he's saying here, basically Lee was a fool for Pickett's Charge, while Grant got a full pass for his debacle on June 3rd at Cold Harbor. Mike has that kind of personality though, basically if you challenge him on anything, you're wrong and he's right, no matter what. It became obvious to me he was biased regarding the Union army, and Grant of course, and it was fruitless to discuss it with him anymore. At some point I just decided to forget about it and tell him we will just agree to disagree, and left it at that. It was typical excusing Grant and minimizing his decision and what actually happened on June 3rd, his bias was painfully obvious and pretty disappointing, but these days not surprising. It's happening at Gettysburg too with some of the Park Rangers there.
So Cold Harbor was really more of "a bungled battle that never played out". I too remember all the stuff about "7,000 casualties in 30 minutes" as a young Civil war enthusiast. I wonder if that came from a Bruce Catton book, who was THE prominent Civil War historian back in the 1970's?
I remember hearing about “perfect” confederate works that were impregnable. And Grant lazily ordered an attack just because. From what I am learning, there is FAR more to the story than that.
*"Trenches laid out by the soldiers themselves'.....it is difficult to believe that regimental officers had no input and that the regimental officers were not directed by brigadiers. *Soldiers tended to stay in the earthworks for good reason...were "head logs" also of no use? I suspect they saved many men.
If you want a complete telling of the Cold Harbor story read”’ The Battle of Cold Harbor” by Louis J. Baltic the third . It is available at the Cold Harbor visitor center and is well researched and well written from an open minded point of view.
Well he gives opinion as fact! Do your own research and you will find his interpretation are threw rose colored glasses and not based in the writing of the men who participate in this horrible event.
@-PanzerRabbit Mike is completely biased and thinks he knows it all, and if you meet him you'll find that out. Also, he's right and you're wrong, no matter what.
@craigcolandro2781 I have a brother like that , can't tell em nothing..... Some of what I read says the survivors of the early assault layed in the feilds with the nonsurviors... most of the day. And when the orders came down to renew the attack the entire chain of command under Grant an Meade with a wink and a nod says *yea we're not doing that*.... I also read that when union General W.F. Smith attacked old men and boys under Buaregaurd at Petersburg a cpl days latter it was less than their best effort because they weren't up for no more "Cold Harbor" style frontal attacks....
Did not expect this from ABT. The Union soldiers skipped happily across the field at Cold Harbor and not that many died? The best way to debunk old myths is not to create new ones.
@AzaleaRegalia27. It's Mike's pure fantasy, revisionist claptrap, nothing more. Even the other Park Rangers there don't agree with him. He's a Grant worshipper.
I was at Cold Harbor last year, and the ranger there, less than 8 months ago, told us all of the things that Mike just told us in this video are not true...
In many cases, NPS is pushing to tell half, or untruths. It is what it is. Most of them don't know a damn thing about the Civil War, or history for that matter.
While I'm a huge fan of the ABT videos, and have been enjoying this Overland Campaign series, I learned less about the actual events which occurred this day of the campaign than any of the others. While Ranger Gorman's general take on the day and how it's been woefully misunderstood was interesting and insightful, he failed to actually go into more detail about what actually happened that day, at least up to the high standards that most of the ABT videos do. I seriously expected another video released which actually did just that, but unfortunately it seems that this video is the only one covering 6/3/64 that will be made. Still, an interesting take on June 3rd at Cold Harbor.
It was said after we fought at Sharpsburg, that McClellan had us outnumbered and brought the Grand army of The Potomac. The mistake he made was, He also brought himself!!
Wow I am surprised why this one was the one he wished he never ordered because I thought it would have been the attack at the crater that he wished he hadn’t ordered.
The crater was ordered on Burnside's command who was under Meade by that time. Burnside championed the assault and even apparently trained an African American brigade to lead the assault. When Meade, who first approved of the mining under the Confederate positions and subsequent assault approved, learned that African Americans would lead the subsequent assault, he changed his mind and ordered at the last minute that white troops would lead the assault. Why? Well supposedly Meade was worried that if African American troops were slaughtered the North would be accused of sending them merely to their deaths. Here's what Grant said in his biography: " have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made… At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained. Indeed, the advantages other than those of relative losses, were on the Confederate side…"
@@yojimbo26 oh okay I understand now because it was from my understanding that grant was the one who ordered the attack on the crater and it was grant who ordered burnside to attack.
The crater was viewed skeptically by both Grant and Meade during the planning and initial preparation. They both thought the concept was foolish. Better detailed planning and leadership in the first few moments after the explosion may have helped with a different result but using an overkill amount of explosives created almost as large an obstruction as the original confederate lines
I used to operate under the “7000 casualties in 30 minutes” myth (possibly picked up from an early ‘90s Time Life CW Atlas) until I read Gordon Rhea’s Cold Harbor book! That being said, it’s fair to note a couple things- -the 2nd and 18th Corps suffered significant casualties especially among officers -the static picket fighting through June 12th in the heat and stench must’ve been miserable
The "loser" usually approached the holder of the field to extract the wounded and dead. Grant delayed that acknowledgment for a few reasons that caused much suffering.
The ranger brings up some important points, but seems to totally downplay any role in this engagement by Lee's men. "The casualties are over-reported; the men were exhausted; Grant was a hero who simply stumbled at Cold Harbor; Forget these entrenchments behind me." I'm sorry, but this appears to be a one-sided attempt of an explanation of a complex battle given almost totally from the Union perspective. For heaven's sake! Give us more balance! Lee has saved Richmond once again! Do Confederate tactics, strategy, and heroism count for nothing from so many of these modern interpreters? Has political correctness cancelled out information that would lead more balance to the report? It was a tragic battle, with heroes on both sides. Please do it justice!
That's Mike Gorman for sure. See my post above, the guy is totally biased and basically he's right and you're wrong, no matter what. I gave it right back to him in Petersburg last year, then I just decided to forget about and stop wasting my time.
At 09:20 ranger there tells us that the dirt trench works are nothing more than "security blankets" No. Lots of Dirt stops bullets, especially 50 cal mini balls fired with black powder (slower velocity). The remains of the earthworks from 160 years ago are still there, right behind him, and they would still serve as cover for modern small arms fire. That's why they used them in the long stalemate that followed....Petersburg. Heck, that's why they still use trenches In Ukraine. Plus if you look at the map he shows, the trenches, although made hastily, did have interlocking fire (zig-zags), which made one heck of a kill zone. That said, I think the ranger did a good job of describing absolute breakdowns in communications at the upper levels. I was at Cold Harbor for a brief visit in 2005, and back then, they had signs that said something like 7,000 men were killed in about a 30 minute time frame, so they have done a lot of further research to dispel that "myth" they themselves put up
Grant made the same mistake Lee made at Gettysburg. He attacked the Confederats who were behing rock walls just as Picket's charge did. Cold Harbor was the Union's Gettysburg.
It is astonishing that parts of The Union Line would attack and other DID NOT. Did those that didn't have commanders who didn't understand what an attack was??? Clearly they must have known they all lined up for a reason? Human Error in war seems to kill as many as the enemy does.
A very good and passionate case made to shatter the myth of Cold Harbor. And while it was briefly touched upon, there is a need for greater focus on the abysmal lack of active leadership of the AOP by both Meade AND Grant. The entire OC was marred by remote control army leadership, leaving corps commanders to work out the details and implementation of their orders. There is little excuse for the repeated lack of cooperation between corps during these battles. And despite the repeated results of such, it seems Grant and Meade never learned from it.
Normally, after an ABT video I feel like I understand that battle better. Not this time. I was not impressed with the showman in his Ranger hat. ABT is about showing the field, showing perspective of the combatants, and giving the facts in an entertaining, engaging way. This guy was doing historical stand up. Ed Bears would eat this guys lunch. Give me Kris, Garry, Chris, Sarah back. Let this other guy go back to confusing 8th graders
The things I knew about cold harbor. The facts are incorrect according to the park ranger? Interesting because while I didn't know much about the battle to begin with, what I had learned was from a long time ago from the history channel.
This woke Park Ranger has a great way of trivializing the monumental and monumentalizing the trivial. It had rained for much of the overnight of June1st into June 2nd . Hancock knew he was attacking a very strong position across wet ground and asked Grant and Meade not to make the attack. Many of the soldiers in the Second Corps were replacement from Washington and while brave not combat regulars. Lee had massed artillery and overlapping fields of fire for his infantry and the trench system was layer spin layer of connected works. When the attacks were begun they were not coordinated and often individual Corps were thrown in piece mealy. So once the attack has failed And the 7000 were killed in 30 Minutes as they were. The Coups Command refused to attack any more. If the line was so weak as the Ranger alludes to it being why would they refuse to attack again? In fact as one Confederate officer stated “ It was not war but murder” So to attack again was to simply throw lives away. This history is well documented and any other telling is unfair to the Bravery of those who died at Cold Harbor!
@@mjciavola when you attempt to change history to suit your masters you are part of the woke movement. History is as written not as you choose to interpretation
@georgegaylord If you meet Mike, like I did, you'll understand pretty quick that he's completely biased, and also, he's right and you're wrong about everything, no matter what you say. I personally found him to be extremely annoying personally. I got into it a bit with him last year at Petersburg, but then decided to just stop and let him ramble on.
Another tragic event occurred right after the battle when the opposing sides, due to miscommunication, left soldiers dead and dying in no-mans land who could have been helped.
Miscommunications? The "loser" usually approached the holder of the field to extract the wounded and dead. Grant delayed that acknowledgment for a few reasons that caused much suffering.
Have been on 3 of his tours recently. Retracing Lincoln’s footsteps through Richmond. The 8th NY Heavy Artillery at Totopotomoy Creek and the 18th Corps attack at Cold Harbor this past Sunday on the anniversary. Hes phenomenal.
He's a completely biased joke. I met him last year in Petersburg and got into it with him. This guy is too biased to be a Park Ranger in my opinion actually, it's insane.
@@derekrupert2013 I sussed out he was biased and spouting nonsense, so I said to him "everyone bashes Lee for going ahead with Pickett's Charge, so what was Grant's excuse at Cold Harbor?" That got him talking his Grant worship and biased revisionist BS right away, and when I challenged him on his statements he didn't want to hear it.
It seems to me I heard about that body count within a few minutes story somewhere but everything else. The reason why the story lives on I think you’re dead wrong. I’m sorry to say, the reason why it lives on in my mind is because when I was little boy, I went to the drive-in theater, and I saw the long writers And that southern gentleman said he’s a goddamn liar. He wasn’t at cold Harbor. I just knew it had to be a hell of a battle LMFAO all the history shout out from Texas!
The park ranger is flat out wrong. Upon reflection of the situation Grant himself regretted the assault on Cold Harbor in his own memoir. Numerous battlefield participants recognized the strength of the Confederate entrenchments. I have given to the ABT for close to 20 years and named it a beneficiary once I die. However, I will not give any further donations and will amend my trust if anymore historical fiction videos are presented by the ABT like this one.
So if only half of the Union forces actually advanced in the assault and it took place over 8 hours, why does your animation show all of the forces advancing at once?
NPS Ranger Mike Gorman truly captures the emotion and the expectations, we need to really examine May 31- June3, I heard the myths about men preparing for death with names pinned to themselves and one wrote a June 3, 1864 journal entry- I was/got Killed...It is interesting How Meade is struggling with Grant's Shadow, and being a scapegoat at times? The Union had driven the Confederates from their breastworks, June 2 a near-crushing victory, 18th/ 6th Corps attack now this ....Ive never thought of the battle this way? a Victory possibly, The second II Corps is too exhausted after the long march they got lost... overnight... a heat-filled night.. The men rested June 2, 1864 a rest. There were poor Fortifications, Interesting and intriguing, by the Rebels, and this will be the largest assault: Five corps US Army of the Potomac make a reconnaissance in front of your lines of the enemy, WOW? baldy Smith 18 Corps is ready, but the others were just passed on by Meade to his men? Perhaps struggling with the toxic relationship, Gen Wright, is new to the Sixth Corps? failure to communicate, most of the army doesn't move? Disaster, the II Corps attacks,??? the V and IX corps don't attack until the afternoon? So the myth of 7,000 in half an hour is too over-simplistic??? even in the Grant series, they stated that myth, the terrible assault that failed the men prepared for death??? Check the sources and facts 5,000 federal dead, not 7,-12,000 the fish story grows, the myth is spun by politicians, Anti-Linclon newspaper editorials etc? and no mass revolt occurred? or these myths that sadly are in our history books especially in middle school/ Junior high and high school even early college undergrad narratives?
Lol It's pure revisionist claptrap, from a hopelessly biased park ranger. Mike doesn't even pretend to not be biased actually, I've seen it in person. Not cool for a Park Ranger to be like that, as in Mike's case it isn't his interpretation, it's totally what REALLY happened don't you know.
First, this guy needs to calm down. Second, my first impression is that he is biased in favor of the Union army and was probably a state police officer at some point in his life. Lastly, I think his opinion on the Confederate trenches is stupid and he doesn’t understand their importance to the soldiers on a practical level. Even if hastily and poorly constructed, that’s still better than just standing up without any cover or concealment in front of you.
Franklin,Tennessee.General Hood, Fredericksburg Virginia, Gen Burnside, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg, Picketts Charge. Cold Harbor. Grant/Meade. We tried to tell them that full frontal attack against entrenched enemy well disciplined was Homicidal!!! 😢
I watched Mike Gorman's lecture on Gaines Mill, and it was well rounded from a Union and Confederate perspective. I was patiently waiting for the 160th video on Cold Harbor, and was excited to see him as the presenter. After watching it though, it did seem like revisionist history, and a sole focus on the Union side. I hope future 160 episodes capture what both sides went through.
This guy never gets invited to parties.
Yes, Grant stated in his memoirs that he regretted the cold harbor attack.
I believe he is just trying to add more context to the story.
My great grandfather (48th PA) was captured at Cold Harbor, recorded as being a prisoner on June 6th and sent to Andersonville. He just turned 18 and this was his first battle. I've always imagined he was captured recovering dead and wounded but have no evidence of this.
Not likely captured doing a recovery, because that was usually under the White Flag. Most likely during the time of active combat. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing out what may not be clear in the video.
"I had seen the dreadful carnage at Marye's Hill at Fredericksburg. But I had not seen nothing to exceed this. It was not war. It was murder."
Bingo, woke history
No, it's war. Both sides had bad battle plans that led to getting allot of their own troops killed...Bragg killed more confedrates soldiers than anyone. It's just war, and when you don't follow orders (right or wrong) this happens
@mattfaulk8724 Also, General Hood sent a bunch of his own men to slaughter at Franklin just to prove a point, unfortunately.
His interpretation that the Confederate works at Cold Harbor were a “security blanket” and no help at all on the defense is bizarre. I wonder if his interpretation would be the same regarding the Union earthworks on Culp’s Hill during the fighting on July 2 and 3 at Gettysburg.
This guy is out of control.
To say that breast works didn't change the strategy and reality of civil war combat seems to go against our basic understanding of the war.Fredricksburg,Picketts charge,Malvern Hill ,caused the soldiers to start diggng any chance they had from what i have read.The mini ball and grooved barrel were basic innovations also.
Those poor soldiers having to live the rest of their lives with all the trauma they have witnessed. The only help help were the others who went through it too. Blue or Gray they all suffered.
Interesting assessment of the battle on the 3rd. As a history nerd (with an emphasis on the nerd part), it always seemed sad to me because it seemed like a foreshadowing of WW1 half a century later.
Disorganized attack. Bad intel on what they were moving into. A push, push, push attitude being driven by political objectives. Bodies pile up quickly and morale is sapped. The attack fails.
I'm hoping to see here in a few days the part about the Army of the Potomac crossing the James River. That must have been a hell of an event to witness. Great stuff as always guys.
Superb and illuminating episode featuring Ranger Mike Gorman. His vivid, tense and masterful narrative was as almost the re-living of the turbulent and complex affair that was June 3rd 1864; and one can almost envisage the psychological incoherence in the Meade and Grant relationship replayed as the powerful drama of a Hollywood production or stage play. Thank you to the team at the American Battlefield Trust and especial thanks to Ranger Mike Gorman.
I know my fair share of CW trivia. But I simply can't articulate it like this ranger. So fantastic to listen to this man.
Grant was called the "butcher" by northerners. Mary Todd Lincoln complained about Grants casualties.
Changed my entire understanding of the battle!
Same here, my mind is blown.
Read some real history before you believe the park service doesn’t have an agenda with there telling of FACTS. He most certainly does
Wow, and I thought I knew…
Same here.
Be Careful of "new" interpretations.
Much has been written to refute his "take".
I would definitely like to hear from other accredited historians about this battle. This is a different account than I have ever heard and I’ve studied much on the Civil War. Not saying he’s wrong, but would like to hear from the battlefield trust team about this account.
I for one am all-in with his interpretation. Garry A.
@@AmericanBattlefieldTrustchecks out, I always thought Garry enjoyed telling hopped up tales, looks like he found another hopped up buddy to help him.
I met Gorman last year in Petersburg and got into it a bit with him. Sorry, but the dude is a completely biased joke, and way too biased to be a Park Ranger in my opinion. Once you meet him you'll understand that he is right and you are wrong, no matter what you say. It was disappointing, but not surprising actually. It's happening at Gettysburg too. It's a real shame for me, because as someone who has been a Civil War nerd since I was about 13, it's guys like this and some others who are turning me off the whole hobby of mine and I'm starting to lose interest in it all. It's rather depressing.
It's not his interpretation actually, but rather his fantasy revisionism, totally caked and layered in a Grant and Union bias he doesn't even attempt to hide, even when you meet him in person. Of course all the historians, even Grant and the soldiers who were actually there were wrong about what they saw and witnessed. But Mike's right of course, he was there don't you know.
I will need to reconsider future donations and possibly go back and amend my trust instructions on disbursements after my passing if the American Battlefield Trust indeed approves and backs this type of revisionist historical fiction - this park ranger is not only wrong he is blatantly biased - sorry I’ll trust those were at the battle rather than this tripe
This Ranger tried his best to change history. The Union took a beating and he tried to explain how that didn't happen.
Wow, I'm sure this gross misinterpretation of his presentation has nothing to do with particular feelings you might have towards the side that lost the war.
Well I’d use the George Pickett train of thought on the cold harbor situation, when he was asked about the southern failure at Gettysburg he said “I think the Yankees had something to do with it”. In the case of the northern failure at Cold Harbor, I’d say, “ the reb army had something to do with it”.
@@herecomesaregular8418 The facts are the facts no matter where you are born or who you favor in a war! Grant took a beating at Cold Harbor just as Lee did at Picketts Charge. You cannot change history only learn from. Anything else is a disservice to those who suffered its effects.
Gorman is a biased joke. I sussed that out last year when I met him at Petersburg and got into it with him. He's also always right, and you're always wrong, no matter what, basically. He's extremely annoying.
@@craigcolandro2781 I most hearty agree my friend he is out to tell his “new” version of history no matter what the facts are. This is why I no longer go on tours led by the Park Service or take visitors to there sites for led tours anywhere in Virginia . I want history not the modernist opinion and view of history
That Meade was still in 'command' was the result of him being an honorable gentleman and military man - while Grant was not a person of arragance who might really pull rank. So when Lincoln brought Grant from the west to command of the whole Union Army this was the result. Just my take on it?
I got into a bit of an argument with Mike last October when he was doing some tours of sites for the Image Of War Seminar at Petersburg. Funny enough, it happened at the Crater. He started with the Grant worship and Lee bashing with me, and I gave it right back to him. He kept insisting the same stuff he's saying here, basically Lee was a fool for Pickett's Charge, while Grant got a full pass for his debacle on June 3rd at Cold Harbor. Mike has that kind of personality though, basically if you challenge him on anything, you're wrong and he's right, no matter what. It became obvious to me he was biased regarding the Union army, and Grant of course, and it was fruitless to discuss it with him anymore. At some point I just decided to forget about it and tell him we will just agree to disagree, and left it at that. It was typical excusing Grant and minimizing his decision and what actually happened on June 3rd, his bias was painfully obvious and pretty disappointing, but these days not surprising. It's happening at Gettysburg too with some of the Park Rangers there.
Any more videos like this piece of historical fiction will result in me no longer supporting the ABT
So Cold Harbor was really more of "a bungled battle that never played out". I too remember all the stuff about "7,000 casualties in 30 minutes" as a young Civil war enthusiast. I wonder if that came from a Bruce Catton book, who was THE prominent Civil War historian back in the 1970's?
I remember hearing about “perfect” confederate works that were impregnable. And Grant lazily ordered an attack just because. From what I am learning, there is FAR more to the story than that.
It's Gorman"s version of what happened, and pure fantasy revisionist history from a tainted source. Don't believe everything a Park Ranger tells you.
*"Trenches laid out by the soldiers themselves'.....it is difficult to believe that regimental officers had no input and that the regimental officers were not directed by brigadiers.
*Soldiers tended to stay in the earthworks for good reason...were "head logs" also of no use? I suspect they saved many men.
Excellent job by Ranger Gorman!
If you want a complete telling of the Cold Harbor story read”’ The Battle of Cold Harbor” by Louis J. Baltic the third . It is available at the Cold Harbor visitor center and is well researched and well written from an open minded point of view.
Sorry it’s Baltz . Autocorrect error!
It's not the job of the ranger to be entertaining. I can watch a movie for that. Being historically correct is what's important.
Well he gives opinion as fact! Do your own research and you will find his interpretation are threw rose colored glasses and not based in the writing of the men who participate in this horrible event.
Found many artifacts roaming that area as a young teenager back in the late 60's..even as late as that,they were still out there..
Wow! That was excellent. A great teacher/lecturer/researcher/thinker ! Hope to hear more from Ranger Gorman.
Western NY represented the June 3rd assault unfortunately very well; losing about 400 men killed and 1000 wounded
This has completely upended my understanding of this battle.
Hmm 🤔
This Rangers telling of events is about opposite of every account I've read , from personal papers to accredited historians.....
@-PanzerRabbit Mike is completely biased and thinks he knows it all, and if you meet him you'll find that out. Also, he's right and you're wrong, no matter what.
@craigcolandro2781
I have a brother like that , can't tell em nothing.....
Some of what I read says the survivors of the early assault layed in the feilds with the nonsurviors... most of the day. And when the orders came down to renew the attack the entire chain of command under Grant an Meade with a wink and a nod says *yea we're not doing that*....
I also read that when union General W.F. Smith attacked old men and boys under Buaregaurd at Petersburg a cpl days latter it was less than their best effort because they weren't up for no more "Cold Harbor" style frontal attacks....
Read Shelby Foote's trilogy. 'nuff said.
The park ranger must have been a Northerner. I wanted to hear about battle of Cold Harbor. Yet little really told
Saw Ranger Mike in-person at Cold Harbor 160 - was amazing!
Did not expect this from ABT. The Union soldiers skipped happily across the field at Cold Harbor and not that many died?
The best way to debunk old myths is not to create new ones.
@AzaleaRegalia27. It's Mike's pure fantasy, revisionist claptrap, nothing more. Even the other Park Rangers there don't agree with him. He's a Grant worshipper.
Masterfully done. Thank you!
Excellent video! Thank you so much!
I was at Cold Harbor last year, and the ranger there, less than 8 months ago, told us all of the things that Mike just told us in this video are not true...
In many cases, NPS is pushing to tell half, or untruths. It is what it is. Most of them don't know a damn thing about the Civil War, or history for that matter.
Mike does often make things up, especially when he’s been drinking…..
It’s Grants prerogative as Meade’s senior to position himself where he wants.
APPRECIATE YOU ABT!! Good presentation
Another great video!
So Lee inflicted all those lopsided casualties with much weaker defenses than was thought?
This series is the best!
This was really informative
While I'm a huge fan of the ABT videos, and have been enjoying this Overland Campaign series, I learned less about the actual events which occurred this day of the campaign than any of the others. While Ranger Gorman's general take on the day and how it's been woefully misunderstood was interesting and insightful, he failed to actually go into more detail about what actually happened that day, at least up to the high standards that most of the ABT videos do. I seriously expected another video released which actually did just that, but unfortunately it seems that this video is the only one covering 6/3/64 that will be made. Still, an interesting take on June 3rd at Cold Harbor.
It was said after we fought at Sharpsburg, that McClellan had us outnumbered and brought the Grand army of The Potomac. The mistake he made was, He also brought himself!!
Man, I think I would watch that guy read the dictionary! Amazing educator and a true service to Americans
Thanks, Mike. Always informative.
Wow I am surprised why this one was the one he wished he never ordered because I thought it would have been the attack at the crater that he wished he hadn’t ordered.
The crater was ordered on Burnside's command who was under Meade by that time. Burnside championed the assault and even apparently trained an African American brigade to lead the assault. When Meade, who first approved of the mining under the Confederate positions and subsequent assault approved, learned that African Americans would lead the subsequent assault, he changed his mind and ordered at the last minute that white troops would lead the assault. Why? Well supposedly Meade was worried that if African American troops were slaughtered the North would be accused of sending them merely to their deaths.
Here's what Grant said in his biography:
" have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made… At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained. Indeed, the advantages other than those of relative losses, were on the Confederate side…"
@@yojimbo26 oh okay I understand now because it was from my understanding that grant was the one who ordered the attack on the crater and it was grant who ordered burnside to attack.
The crater was viewed skeptically by both Grant and Meade during the planning and initial preparation. They both thought the concept was foolish. Better detailed planning and leadership in the first few moments after the explosion may have helped with a different result but using an overkill amount of explosives created almost as large an obstruction as the original confederate lines
Had a direct ancestor who was wounded in this fight.
I don't doubt the Ranger, but were there not an obscene amount of casualties or not?
I used to operate under the “7000 casualties in 30 minutes” myth (possibly picked up from an early ‘90s Time Life CW Atlas) until I read Gordon Rhea’s Cold Harbor book! That being said, it’s fair to note a couple things-
-the 2nd and 18th Corps suffered significant casualties especially among officers
-the static picket fighting through June 12th in the heat and stench must’ve been miserable
The "loser" usually approached the holder of the field to extract the wounded and dead. Grant delayed that acknowledgment for a few reasons that caused much suffering.
Outstanding job once again!!! Great presentation.
You guys are doing an amazing job with this Overland Campaign 160th series. Very much aopreciated.
Thanks
Very interesting.
Interesting.
The ranger brings up some important points, but seems to totally downplay any role in this engagement by Lee's men. "The casualties are over-reported; the men were exhausted; Grant was a hero who simply stumbled at Cold Harbor; Forget these entrenchments behind me." I'm sorry, but this appears to be a one-sided attempt of an explanation of a complex battle given almost totally from the Union perspective. For heaven's sake! Give us more balance! Lee has saved Richmond once again! Do Confederate tactics, strategy, and heroism count for nothing from so many of these modern interpreters? Has political correctness cancelled out information that would lead more balance to the report? It was a tragic battle, with heroes on both sides. Please do it justice!
That's Mike Gorman for sure. See my post above, the guy is totally biased and basically he's right and you're wrong, no matter what. I gave it right back to him in Petersburg last year, then I just decided to forget about and stop wasting my time.
It’s also untrue that the 6th Corps did nothing on June 3. They advanced, though not aggressively, and suffered 600 casualties. Hardly a cakewalk.
Great job, Mike Gorman!
At 09:20 ranger there tells us that the dirt trench works are nothing more than "security blankets" No. Lots of Dirt stops bullets, especially 50 cal mini balls fired with black powder (slower velocity). The remains of the earthworks from 160 years ago are still there, right behind him, and they would still serve as cover for modern small arms fire. That's why they used them in the long stalemate that followed....Petersburg. Heck, that's why they still use trenches In Ukraine. Plus if you look at the map he shows, the trenches, although made hastily, did have interlocking fire (zig-zags), which made one heck of a kill zone. That said, I think the ranger did a good job of describing absolute breakdowns in communications at the upper levels. I was at Cold Harbor for a brief visit in 2005, and back then, they had signs that said something like 7,000 men were killed in about a 30 minute time frame, so they have done a lot of further research to dispel that "myth" they themselves put up
Dirt is a first rate all time hall of fame bullet stopper - the “ranger” is a moron
Grant made the same mistake Lee made at Gettysburg. He attacked the Confederats who were behing rock walls just as Picket's charge did. Cold Harbor was the Union's Gettysburg.
You don't need a "top to bottom" mutiny to disrupt a movement.
Excellent....thank you.
whole series is so dang powerful
It is astonishing that parts of The Union Line would attack and other DID NOT. Did those that didn't have commanders who didn't understand what an attack was??? Clearly they must have known they all lined up for a reason? Human Error in war seems to kill as many as the enemy does.
Upton totally ignored ordered to attack
Very helpful for the Ranger to debunk common misconceptions
Well, no actually, Mike is always right and you're always wrong, no matter what.
A very good and passionate case made to shatter the myth of Cold Harbor. And while it was briefly touched upon, there is a need for greater focus on the abysmal lack of active leadership of the AOP by both Meade AND Grant. The entire OC was marred by remote control army leadership, leaving corps commanders to work out the details and implementation of their orders. There is little excuse for the repeated lack of cooperation between corps during these battles. And despite the repeated results of such, it seems Grant and Meade never learned from it.
I was at Cold Harbor that day on June 3,1864.These Men telling the story for the most part is true
Normally, after an ABT video I feel like I understand that battle better. Not this time. I was not impressed with the showman in his Ranger hat. ABT is about showing the field, showing perspective of the combatants, and giving the facts in an entertaining, engaging way. This guy was doing historical stand up. Ed Bears would eat this guys lunch. Give me Kris, Garry, Chris, Sarah back. Let this other guy go back to confusing 8th graders
Agreed this ranger was worthless - will need to reconsider future donations if this type of video becomes a trend
The things I knew about cold harbor. The facts are incorrect according to the park ranger? Interesting because while I didn't know much about the battle to begin with, what I had learned was from a long time ago from the history channel.
This woke Park Ranger has a great way of trivializing the monumental and monumentalizing the trivial. It had rained for much of the overnight of June1st into June 2nd . Hancock knew he was attacking a very strong position across wet ground and asked Grant and Meade not to make the attack. Many of the soldiers in the Second Corps were replacement from Washington and while brave not combat regulars. Lee had massed artillery and overlapping fields of fire for his infantry and the trench system was layer spin layer of connected works. When the attacks were begun they were not coordinated and often individual Corps were thrown in piece mealy. So once the attack has failed And the 7000 were killed in 30 Minutes as they were. The Coups Command refused to attack any more. If the line was so weak as the Ranger alludes to it being why would they refuse to attack again? In fact as one Confederate officer stated “ It was not war but murder”
So to attack again was to simply throw lives away. This history is well documented and any other telling is unfair to the Bravery of those who died at Cold Harbor!
Woke? I don't see how that relates to your comments.😆
@@mjciavola when you attempt to change history to suit your masters you are part of the woke movement. History is as written not as you choose to interpretation
@@georgegaylord Oh...I see. 😆
@georgegaylord If you meet Mike, like I did, you'll understand pretty quick that he's completely biased, and also, he's right and you're wrong about everything, no matter what you say. I personally found him to be extremely annoying personally. I got into it a bit with him last year at Petersburg, but then decided to just stop and let him ramble on.
@@craigcolandro2781 so even you feel he is wrong and has an agenda!
The park ranger is a disgrace. It's not a myth or a story. Those men suffered and died no matter how much you try to negate it.
Another tragic event occurred right after the battle when the opposing sides, due to miscommunication, left soldiers dead and dying in no-mans land who could have been helped.
Miscommunications?
The "loser" usually approached the holder of the field to extract the wounded and dead. Grant delayed that acknowledgment for a few reasons that caused much suffering.
Great interpretation
Failure of dissemination of orders to attack falls on Grant. No excuse. Why did he not direct Meade to order the attack.....chain of command?
Have been on 3 of his tours recently. Retracing Lincoln’s footsteps through Richmond. The 8th NY Heavy Artillery at Totopotomoy Creek and the 18th Corps attack at Cold Harbor this past Sunday on the anniversary. Hes phenomenal.
Did you find his footsteps? Are they still visible after all these years ?
@@TheConfederate1863 yep. Led us right to the White House of the confederacy. Now continue with your diatribe
He's a completely biased joke. I met him last year in Petersburg and got into it with him. This guy is too biased to be a Park Ranger in my opinion actually, it's insane.
@@craigcolandro2781 what did you get into it about?
@@derekrupert2013 I sussed out he was biased and spouting nonsense, so I said to him "everyone bashes Lee for going ahead with Pickett's Charge, so what was Grant's excuse at Cold Harbor?" That got him talking his Grant worship and biased revisionist BS right away, and when I challenged him on his statements he didn't want to hear it.
It seems to me I heard about that body count within a few minutes story somewhere but everything else. The reason why the story lives on I think you’re dead wrong. I’m sorry to say, the reason why it lives on in my mind is because when I was little boy, I went to the drive-in theater, and I saw the long writers And that southern gentleman said he’s a goddamn liar. He wasn’t at cold Harbor. I just knew it had to be a hell of a battle LMFAO all the history shout out from Texas!
Ken Burns got it wrong?
The park ranger is flat out wrong. Upon reflection of the situation Grant himself regretted the assault on Cold Harbor in his own memoir. Numerous battlefield participants recognized the strength of the Confederate entrenchments. I have given to the ABT for close to 20 years and named it a beneficiary once I die. However, I will not give any further donations and will amend my trust if anymore historical fiction videos are presented by the ABT like this one.
Lots of Frosting, but too little cake.....
So if only half of the Union forces actually advanced in the assault and it took place over 8 hours, why does your animation show all of the forces advancing at once?
NPS Ranger Mike Gorman truly captures the emotion and the expectations, we need to really examine May 31- June3, I heard the myths about men preparing for death with names pinned to themselves and one wrote a June 3, 1864 journal entry- I was/got Killed...It is interesting How Meade is struggling with Grant's Shadow, and being a scapegoat at times? The Union had driven the Confederates from their breastworks, June 2 a near-crushing victory, 18th/ 6th Corps attack now this ....Ive never thought of the battle this way? a Victory possibly, The second II Corps is too exhausted after the long march they got lost... overnight... a heat-filled night.. The men rested June 2, 1864 a rest. There were poor Fortifications, Interesting and intriguing, by the Rebels, and this will be the largest assault: Five corps US Army of the Potomac make a reconnaissance in front of your lines of the enemy, WOW? baldy Smith 18 Corps is ready, but the others were just passed on by Meade to his men? Perhaps struggling with the toxic relationship, Gen Wright, is new to the Sixth Corps? failure to communicate, most of the army doesn't move? Disaster, the II Corps attacks,??? the V and IX corps don't attack until the afternoon? So the myth of 7,000 in half an hour is too over-simplistic??? even in the Grant series, they stated that myth, the terrible assault that failed the men prepared for death??? Check the sources and facts 5,000 federal dead, not 7,-12,000 the fish story grows, the myth is spun by politicians, Anti-Linclon newspaper editorials etc? and no mass revolt occurred? or these myths that sadly are in our history books especially in middle school/ Junior high and high school even early college undergrad narratives?
Lol It's pure revisionist claptrap, from a hopelessly biased park ranger. Mike doesn't even pretend to not be biased actually, I've seen it in person. Not cool for a Park Ranger to be like that, as in Mike's case it isn't his interpretation, it's totally what REALLY happened don't you know.
Love your vids
With several historians having different "points of view", it is hard to say what really happened. Who really knows.
Good gosh this ranger is greatness.
This guy is GOOD!!!
Lol
Mike kept me in this video! That man knows how to keep a person's attention
This ranger is trying way to hard and is giving no information whatsoever
First, this guy needs to calm down. Second, my first impression is that he is biased in favor of the Union army and was probably a state police officer at some point in his life. Lastly, I think his opinion on the Confederate trenches is stupid and he doesn’t understand their importance to the soldiers on a practical level. Even if hastily and poorly constructed, that’s still better than just standing up without any cover or concealment in front of you.
This park ranger is entertaining. I like him. Good stuff.
Entertaining in a Soupy Sales sorta way I guess.....
Two and three word sentences get annoying in a hurry.
Sometimes, Rangers try too hard to be entertaining.
Yankee propaganda.
How so?
@@wes2262 ever heard of sarcasm? Most civil war videos there are ppl saying southern propaganda, etc.
So now what we been told or read etc is a bunch of BS. Lol well unbelievable. :/
Franklin,Tennessee.General Hood, Fredericksburg Virginia, Gen Burnside, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg, Picketts Charge. Cold Harbor. Grant/Meade. We tried to tell them that full frontal attack against entrenched enemy well disciplined was Homicidal!!! 😢