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To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight； but
Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin； the enemy's infantry succeeded in
getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than
Fitzgerald's ford； and assailing Davies； forced him back in a
northeasterly direction toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in
company with Devin。 The retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass
between Crook and Merritt； which he promptly did； effectually
separating them and cutting off both Davies and Devin from the road
to Dinwiddie； so that to get to that point they had to retreat across
the country to B。 Boisseau's and then down the Boydton road。
Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five
Forks and Dabney roads； and directing Merritt to hold on there； I
ordered Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid；
for if Pickett continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he
would expose his right and rear； and I determined to attack him； in
such case； from Gibbs's position。 Gregg arrived in good season； and
as soon as his men were dismounted on Gibbs's left； Merritt assailed
fiercely； compelling Pickett to halt and face a new foe； thus
interrupting an advance that would finally have carried Pickett into
the rear of Warren's corps。
It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical
situation； but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to
Dinwiddie by the Boydton road； staff…officers were sent to hurry
Custer to the same point； for with its several diverging roads the
Court House was of vital importance； and I determined to stay there
at all hazards。 At the same time orders were sent to Smith's
brigade； which； by the advance of Pickett past its right flank and
the pressure of W。 H。 F。 Lee on its front； had been compelled to give
up Fitzgerald's crossing； to fall back toward Dinwiddie but to
contest every inch of ground so as to gain time。
When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs； Pickett； desisting from
his pursuit of Devin； as already stated； turned his undivided
attention to this unexpected force； and with his preponderating
infantry pressed it back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle；
though our men； fighting dismounted behind barricades at different
points； displayed such obstinacy as to make Pickett's progress slow；
and thus give me time to look out a line for defending the Court
House。 I selected a place about three…fourths of a mile northwest of
the crossroads； and Custer coming up quickly with Capehart's brigade；
took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in some open
ground along the crest of a gentle ridge。 Custer got Capehart into
place just in time to lend a hand to Smith； who； severely pressed；
came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's 〃bed〃the
vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith
retired。 A little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs； falling to
the rear slowly and steadily； took up in the woods a line which
covered the Boydton Road some distance to the right of Capehart； the
intervening gap to be filled with Pennington's brigade。 By this time
our horse…artillery； which for two days had been stuck in the mud；
was all up； and every gun was posted in this line。
It was now near sunset； and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was
theirs； made a dash at Smith； but just as the assailants appeared in
the open fields； Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left
flank as to cause it to recoil in astonishment； which permitted Smith
to connect his brigade with Custer unmolested。 We were now in good
shape behind the familiar barricades； and having a continuous line；
excepting only the gap to be filled with Pennington； that covered
Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road。 My left rested in the woods about
half a mile west of the Court House； and the barricades extended from
this flank in a semicircle through the open fields in a northeasterly
direction； to a piece…of thick timber on the right； near the Boydton
Road。
A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed
for the attack； and； fortunately for us； Pennington's brigade came up
and filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and
Gibbs； just as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front
of Custer； in deep lines that plainly told how greatly we were
outnumbered。
Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff； I now rode
along the barricades to encourage the men。 Our enthusiastic
reception showed that they were determined to stay。 The cavalcade
drew the enemy's fire； which emptied several of the saddlesamong
others Mr。 Theodore Wilson； correspondent of the New York Herald；
being wounded。 In reply our horse…artillery opened on the advancing
Confederates； but the men behind the barricades lay still till
Pickett's troops were within short range。 Then they opened； Custer's
repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of lead that nothing could
stand up against it。 The repulse was very quick； and as the gray
lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes before they
had so confidently advanced； all danger of their taking Dinwiddie or
marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over； at least
for the night。 The enemy being thus checked； I sent a staff…officer…
…Captain Sheridanto General Grant to report what had taken place
during the afternoon； and to say that I proposed to stay at
Dinwiddie； but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place； I would
do so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run； for I then
thought the attack might be renewed next morning。 Devin and Davies
joined me about dark； and my troops being now well in hand； I sent a
second staff…officerColonel John Kelloggto explain my situation
more fully； and to assure General Grant that I would hold on at
Dinwiddie till forced to let go。
By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely
isolated itself； and hence there was now offered the Union troops a
rare opportunity。 Lee was outside of his works； just as we desired；
and the general…in…chief realized this the moment he received the
first report of my situation； General Meade appreciated it too from
the information he got from Captain Sheridan； en route to army
headquarters with the first tidings； and sent this telegram to
General Grant ：
〃HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC；
〃March 31； 1865。 9：45 p。m。
〃LIEUTENANT…GENERAL GRANT：
〃Would it not be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and
smash up the force in front of Sheridan？ Humphreys can hold the line
to the Boydton plank…road； and the refusal along with it。 Bartlett's
brigade is now on the road from G。 Boisseau's； running north； where
it crosses Gravelly Run； he having gone down the White Oak road。
Warren could go at once that way； and take the force threatening
Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie； and move on the enemy's rear with the
other two。
〃G。 G。 MEADE； Major…General。〃
An hour later General Grant replied in these words：
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES；
〃DABNEY'S MILLS； March 311； 1865。 10：15 P。 M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL MEADE；
〃Commanding Army of the Potomac。
Let Warren move in the way you propose； and urge him not to stop for
anything。 Let Griffin （Griffin had been ordered by Warren to the
Boydton road to protect his rear） go on as he was first directed。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth
Corps； under Major…General G。 K。 Warren； to report to me； and when I
received word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry
from the Army of the James was likewise to be added to my command；
and that discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces
against Pickett； I resolved to destroy him； if it was within the
bounds of possibility； before he could rejoin Lee。
In a despatch； dated 10：05 p。m。； telling me of the coming of Warren
and Mackenzie； General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should
reach me by 12 o'clock that night； but at that hour not only had none
of the corps arrived； but no report from it； so believing that if it
came all the way down to Dinwiddie the next morning； our opportunity
would be gone； I concluded that it would be best to order Warren to
move in on the enemy's rear while the cavalry attacked in front； and；
therefore； at 3 o'clock in the morning of April 1 sent this despatch
to General Warren：
〃CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS； DINWIDDIE C。 H。；
〃April 1； 18653。 A。M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL WARREN；
〃Commanding Fifth Army Corps。
I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House； on the road leading
to Five Forks； for three…quarters of a mile with General Custer's
division。 The enemy are in his immediate front； lying so as to cover
the road just this side of A。 Adams's house；