four
in the morning
The Federals now retired down the valley to Strasburg , and Breckenridge was able to send a portion of his force to aid Lee in his great struggle . After his six days ' pause in front of Lee 's position at Spotsylvania , Grant abandoned his plan of forcing his way through Lee 's army to Richmond , and endeavored to outflank it ; but Lee again divined his object , and moved round and still faced him . After various movements the armies again stood face to face upon the old battle-grounds on the Chickahominy . On the 3d of June the battle commenced at half-past four in the morning . Hancock at first gained an advantage , but Hill 's division dashed down upon him and drove him back with great slaughter ; while no advantage was gained by them in other parts of the field . The Federal loss on this day was 13,000 , and the troops were so dispirited that they refused to renew the battle in the afternoon . Grant then determined to alter his plan altogether , and sending imperative orders to Butler to obtain possession of Petersburg , embarked Smith 's corps in transports , and moved with the rest of his army to join that general there .