Battle of Five Forks - Civil War

Battle of Five Forks - Civil War Battle of Five Forks - Conflict: The Battle of Five Forks occurred during the American Civil War  (1861-1865). Battle of Five Forks - Dates: Sheridan routed Picketts men on April 1, 1865. Armies Commanders: Union Major General Philip H. SheridanMajor General Gouverneur K. Warren17,000 men Confederates Major General George E. Pickett9,200 men Battle of Five Forks - Background: In late March 1865, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant ordered Major General Philip H. Sheridan to push south and west of Petersburg with the goal of turning Confederate General Robert E. Lees right flank and forcing him from the city. Advancing with the Army of the Potomacs Cavalry Corps and Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens V Corps, Sheridan sought to capture the vital crossroads of Five Forks which would allow him to threaten the Southside Railroad. A key supply line into Petersburg, Lee moved swiftly to defend the railroad. Dispatching Major General George E. Pickett to the area with a division of infantry and Major Gen. W.H.F. Rooney Lees cavalry, he issued orders for them to block the Union advance. On March 31, Pickett succeeded in stalling Sheridans cavalry at the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House. With Union reinforcements en route, Pickett was forced to fall back to Five Forks before dawn on April 1. Arriving, he received a note from Lee stating Hold Five Forks at all hazards. Protect road to Fords Depot and prevent Union forces from striking the Southside Railroad. Battle of Five Forks - Sheridan Advances: Entrenching, Picketts forces awaited the anticipated Union assault. Eager to move quickly with the goal of cutting off and destroying Picketts force, Sheridan advanced intending to hold Pickett in place with his cavalry while V Corps struck the Confederate left. Moving slowly due to muddy roads and faulty maps, Warrens men were not in position to attack until 4:00 PM. Though the delay angered Sheridan, it benefited the Union in that the lull led to Pickett and Rooney Lee leaving the field to attend a shad bake near Hatchers Run. Neither informed their subordinates that they were leaving the area. As the Union attack moved forward, it quickly became clear that V Corps had deployed too far to the east. Advancing through the underbrush on a two division front, the left division, under Major General Romeyn Ayres, came under enfilading fire from the Confederates while the Major General Samuel Crawfords division on the right missed the enemy entirely. Halting the attack, Warren desperately worked to realign his men to attack west. As he did so, an irate Sheridan arrived and joined with Ayres men. Charging forward, they smashed into the Confederate left, breaking the line. Battle of Five Forks - Confederates Enveloped: As the Confederates fell back in an attempt to form a new defensive line, Warrens reserve division, led by Major General Charles Griffin, came into line next to Ayres men. To the north, Crawford, at Warrens direction, wheeled his division into line, enveloping the Confederate position. As V Corps drove the leaderless Confederates before them, Sheridans cavalry swept around Picketts right flank. With Union troops pinching in from both sides, the Confederate resistance broke and those able to escape fled north. Due to atmospheric conditions, Pickett was unaware of the battle until it was too late. Battle of Five Forks - Aftermath: The victory at Five Forks cost Sheridan 803 killed and wounded, while Picketts command incurred 604 killed and wounded, as well as 2,400 captured. Immediately following the battle, Sheridan relieved Warren of command and placed Griffin in charge of V Corps. Angered by Warrens slow movements, Sheridan ordered him to report to Grant. Sheridans actions effectively wrecked Warrens career, though he was exonerated by a board of inquiry in 1879. The Union victory at Five Forks and their presence near the Southside Railroad forced Lee to consider abandoning Petersburg and Richmond. Seeking to take advantage of Sheridans triumph, Grant ordered a massive assault against Petersburg the next day. With his lines broken, Lee began retreating west towards his eventual surrender at Appomattox on April 9. For its role in keying the final movements of the war in the East, Five Forks is often referred to as the Waterloo of the Confederacy.