Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/84

 76 Southern Historical Society Papers.

bers constraining him to be cautious, Lee next attempted the destruc- tion of Sheridan's force, which was widely separated from the Federal infantry. Sheridan, appreciating the value of Five Forks, had tem- porarily taken possession of it while the Confederate infantry had been engaged with Warren, but Lee moved Pickett and Bushrod Johnson over the White Oak road to Five Forks and drove the Federal Cavalry in disorder on Dinwiddie Courthouse, and isolated a portion of the force from Sheridan's main line at Dinwiddie. The Confederate infantry and cavalry then assailed Sheridan's main body at Dinwiddie Courthouse and handled it severely. There is much ground for believing, as the Confederates claim, that night probably prevented the destruction of this force.

FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG LINES.

Grant, on learning the situation, was very anxious about Sheridan, and subordinated all his movements to his relief. About midnight on the 3ist, Pickett's position being isolated, all the troops which had been operating against Sheridan were withdrawn to Five Forks by General Lee. Sheridan followed with the fifth corps and the cav- alry under his command, and about 3 o'clock in the evening of April ist, masking the movement of the infantry by his cavalry, succeeded in getting the fifth corps in on the left of the Confederate works, and, in spite of the efforts of officers and men, almost surrounded and routed the greater portion of Pickett's and Johnson's troops, which vainly endeavored to change front to meet his attack. The Con- federate loss in this action was not less than 4,700.* The fragments of Pickett's command, with some troops sent by General Lee to cover their retreat, took position at Sutherland station. The Confederate force in the trenches in the Petersburg lines was now a mere picket line, the men being from five to seven yards apart, and at dawn on Sunday, the 2d, Grant ordered Parke, Wright and Ord to assault. With the exception of three places in front of Petersburg, Gordon held his lines, but the sixth and second corps brushed through the cob-web force in front of them and swept up and down the Confede- rate lines from Hatcher's Run to the inner lines around Petersburg. At this time General Hill, who had been at Lee's headquarters, per-

head " Numbers, Losses," &c., and note, as to number captured there.
 * Colonel Taylor states it 1,300 more. See discussion further on under