Drawn like moths to a flame they were the Confederate generals Lee and Pickett. This is the story of Five Forks. It is a story of a critical road junction in Dinwiddie County. This area is where the Battle of Five Forks took place during the American Civil War.
In the spring of 1865, Union General Ulysses S. Grant aimed to break Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s lines. Grant wanted to threaten Lee’s last supply line. That supply line was the South Side Railroad. To achieve this, Grant ordered General Philip Sheridan and his cavalry to advance on the railroad. They would use the important road junction known as Five Forks.
Lee responded by ordering General George Pickett with his infantry division to defend Five Forks. Pickett was supported by cavalry under Generals Fitzhugh Lee, Thomas Munford, and others. Lee ordered them to hold the vital crossroads at all hazards.
Sheridan discovered the Confederate force and secured infantry support from General Gouverneur K. Warren’s V Corps. After a brief stall at Dinwiddie Court House, Pickett withdrew to Five Forks. He fortified his position there.
On April 1, Sheridan’s cavalry pinned the Confederates down at Five Forks. The V Corps then assaulted the Confederate left flank and rear. This turned their position and captured many prisoners.
Interestingly, Pickett was attending a shad bake when the fighting began. He was unaware of the battle until it was too late. An acoustic shadow blocked the sound of battle. Sheridan personally directed the Union attack. He often risked his life to rally the troops. During the battle, Union Brigadier General Frederick Winthrop was killed. Confederate artillery officer Willie Pegram was mortally wounded.
Although the V Corps performed well, Sheridan was unhappy with Warren’s performance. He relieved him of command. The Union victory at Five Forks heralded the end of the Petersburg stalemate. It set the stage for the breakthrough the next day. On April 2, Lee informed Jefferson Davis that Petersburg and Richmond would have to be evacuated. Lee surrendered to Grant just seven days later.
The Battle of Five Forks is also called the Waterloo of the Confederacy. The Union victory separated Lee’s right flank from his army. Lee was forced to evacuate Petersburg. The Confederate capital of Richmond was then undefended. Lee intended to retreat to North Carolina. However, Grant’s forces blocked the way. Lee withdrew to Appomattox. He surrendered his army to Grant eight days after Five Forks.
Union forces numbered 17000 and suffered 830 losses. Confederate forces numbered 9200 and suffered 2950 losses. The Battle of Five Forks was a decisive victory. It forced Lee to abandon Petersburg.
Five Forks remains a significant site. It marks a turning point in the Civil War. It symbolizes the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. Today, visitors can explore the Five Forks battlefield. They can learn about the events that unfolded here. They can honor the soldiers who fought in this pivotal battle. The echoes of that conflict still resonate through these fields.