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holding Stony Creek in this way forced him to make a detour west of
Chamberlin's Run； in order to get in communication with his friends
at Five Forks。
The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping；
but kept pouring down all day long； and the swamps and quicksands
mired the horses； whether they marched in the roads or across the
adjacent fields。 Undismayed； nevertheless； each column set out for
its appointed duty； but shortly after the troops began to move I
received from General Grant this despatch； which put a new phase on
matters：
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES；
〃GRAVELLY RUN； March 30； 1865。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL SHERIDAN ：
〃The heavy rain of to…day will make it impossible for us to do much
until it dries up a little； or we get roads around our rear repaired。
You may； therefore； leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect
the left； and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that
purpose； and send the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they
can get hay and grain。 Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent
to you in the morning。 Send an officer back to direct the wagons
back to where you want them。 Report to me the cavalry you will leave
back； and the position you will occupy。 Could not your cavalry go
back by the way of Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store
of supplies there？
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieut。…General。〃
When I had read and pondered this； I determined to ride over to
General Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run； and get a clear idea of
what it was proposed to do； for it seemed to me that a suspension of
operations would be a serious mistake。 Mounting a powerful gray
pacing horse called Breckenridge （from its capture from one of
Breckenridge's staff…officers at Missionary Ridge）； and that I knew
would carry me through the mud； I set out accompanied by my Assistant
Adjutant…General； Colonel Frederick C。 Newhall； and an escort of
about ten or fifteen men。 At first we rode north up the Boydton
plank…road； and coming upon our infantry pickets from a direction
where the enemy was expected to appear； they began to fire upon us；
but seeing from our actions that we were friends； they ceased； and
permitted us to pass the outposts。 We then struggled on in a
northeasterly direction across…country； till we struck the Vaughn
road。 This carried us to army headquarters； which were established
south of Gravelly Run in an old cornfield。 I rode to within a few
yards of the front of General Grant's tent； my horse plunging at
every step almost to his knees in the mud； and dismounted near a
camp…fire； apparently a general one； for all the staff…officers were
standing around it on boards and rails placed here and there to keep
them from sinking into the mire。
Going directly to General Grant's tent； I found him and Rawlins
talking over the question of suspending operations till the weather
should improve。 No orders about the matter had been issued yet；
except the despatch to me； and Rawlins； being strongly opposed to the
proposition； was frankly expostulating with General Grant； who； after
greeting me； remarked； in his quiet way： 〃 Well； Rawlins； I think you
had better take command。〃 Seeing that there was a difference up
between Rawlins and his chief； I made the excuse of being wet and
cold； and went outside to the fire。 Here General Ingalls met me and
took me to his tent； where I was much more comfortable than when
standing outside； and where a few minutes later we were joined by
General Grant。 Ingalls then retired； and General Grant began talking
of our fearful plight； resulting from the rains and mud； and saying
that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend operations。 I at
once begged him not to do so； telling him that my cavalry was already
on the move in spite of the difficulties； and that although a
suspension of operations would not be fatal； yet it would give rise
to the very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City
Point； and； moreover； that we would surely be ridiculed； just as
General Burnside's army was after the mud march of 1863。 His better
judgment was against suspending operations； but the proposition had
been suggested by all sorts of complaints as to the impossibility of
moving the trains and the like； so it needed little argument to
convince him； and without further discussion he said； in that manner
which with him meant a firmness of purpose that could not be changed
by further complainings； 〃We will go on。〃 I then told him that I
believed I could break in the enemy's right if he would let me have
the Sixth Corps； but saying that the condition of the roads would
prevent the movement of infantry； he replied that I would have to
seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone。
On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General
Warren； but the General being asleep； I went to the tent of one of
his staff…officers。 Colonel William T。 Gentry； an old personal
friend with whom I had served in Oregon。 In a few minutes Warren
came in and we had a short conversation； he speaking rather
despondently of the outlook； being influenced no doubt by the
depressing weather。
》From Warren's headquarters I returned； by the Boydton road to
Dinwiddie Court House； fording Gravelly Run with ease。 When I got as
far as the Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five
Forks； with orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and
strength； and then rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my
other troops up。 Merritt was halted at the intersection of the Five
Forks and Gravelly Church roads when Newhall delivered the orders；
and in compliance moving out Gibbs's brigade promptly； sharp
skirmishing was brought on； Gibbs driving the Confederates to Five
Forks； where he found them behind a line of breastworks running along
the White Oak road。 The reconnoissance demonstrating the intention
of the enemy to hold this point； Gibbs was withdrawn。
That evening； at 7 o'clock； I reported the position of the
Confederate cavalry； and stated that it had been reinforced by
Pickett's division of infantry。 On receipt of this despatch； General
Grant offered me the Fifth Corps； but I declined to take it； and
again asked for the Sixth； saying that with it I believed I could
turn the enemy （Pickett's） left； or break through his lines。 The
morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the Sixth Corps could
not be taken from its position in the line； and offered me the
Second； but in the mean time circumstances had changed； and no corps
was ordered。
CHAPTER VI。
BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSEPICKETT REPULSEDREINFORCED BY THE
FIFTH CORPSBATTLE OF FIVE FORKSTURNING THE CONFEDERATE LEFTAN
UNQUALIFIED SUCCESSRELIEVING GENERAL WARRENTHE WARREN COURT OF
INQUIRYGENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION。
The night of March 30 Merritt； with Devin's division and Davies's
brigade； was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front
of Dinwiddie； near J。 Boisseau's。 Crook； with Smith and Gregg's
brigades； continued to cover Stony Creek； and Custer was still back
at Rowanty Creek； trying to get the trains up。 This force had been
counted while crossing the creek on the 29th； the three divisions
numbering 9；000 enlisted men； Crook having 3；300； and Custer and
Devin 5；700。
During the 30th； the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry； and by
evening General W。 H。 F。 Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh
Lee near Five Forks。 To this force was added； about dark； five
brigades of infantrythree from Pickett's division； and two from
Johnson'sall under command of Pickett。 The infantry came by the
White Oak road from the right of General Lee's intrenchments； and
their arrival became positively known to me about dark； the
confirmatory intelligence being brought in then by some of Young's
scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines。
On the 31st； the rain having ceased； directions were given at an
early hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances
preparatory to securing Five Forks； and about 9 o'clock Merritt
started for the crossroads； Davies's brigade supporting him。 His
march was necessarily slow because of the mud； and the enemy's
pickets resisted with obstinacy also； but the coveted crossroads fell
to Merritt without much trouble； as the bulk of the enemy was just
then bent on other things。 At the same hour that Merritt started；
Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from Dinwiddie to
Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek； to cover Merritt's
left； supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear。 The
occupation of this ford was timely； for Pickett； now in command of
both the cavalry and infantry； was already marching to get in
Merritt's rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek。
To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight； but
Mumford'