Battle of Five Forks, one of the final major engagements of the American Civil War (1861–65). It was fought on April 1, 1865. The lengthy Union siege of Confederate-held Petersburg in Virginia, which had lasted for nine months, was brought to a close in this battle. Union troops overwhelmed their opponents at what has been called the “Waterloo of the Confederacy,” forcing the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, to abandon Petersburg and head toward final defeat a week later (9 April) at the Battle of Appomattox Court House.

　　The commander of the Union forces, General Ulysses S. Grant, ordered General Philip H. Sheridan to lead three cavalry divisions to Five Forks, an important road just southwest of Petersburg that led to the South Side Railroad, a critical supply and retreat line for the South. The Confederate line was defended by George E. Pickett’s infantry division. Pickett and his men built a defensive line of logs and earth almost 1.75 miles (2.8 km) long, its flanks guarded by cavalry led by Lee’s second son, Rooney Lee. In response, Sheridan planned to push evenly along the whole line with his mostly unmounted cavalry while V Corps under General Gouverneur K. Warren attacked the Confederate left flank.

　　American Civil War Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Battle of Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 - April 14, 1861

　　Shenandoah Valley campaigns July 1861 - March 1865

　　First Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861

　　Vicksburg Campaign 1862 - 1863

　　Mississippi Valley Campaign February 1862 - July 1863

　　Battle of Fort Donelson February 13, 1862 - February 16, 1862

　　Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack March 9, 1862

　　Battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862 - April 7, 1862

　　Seven Days’ Battles June 25, 1862 - July 1, 1862

　　Second Battle of Bull Run August 29, 1862 - August 30, 1862

　　Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862

　　Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862

　　Battle of Chancellorsville April 30, 1863 - May 5, 1863

　　Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863 - July 3, 1863

　　Second Battle of Fort Wagner July 18, 1863

　　Fort Pillow Massacre April 12, 1864

　　Atlanta Campaign May 1864 - September 1864

　　Battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864 - May 7, 1864

　　Battle of Spotsylvania Court House May 8, 1864 - May 19, 1864

　　Battle of Cold Harbor May 31, 1864 - June 12, 1864

　　Petersburg Campaign June 1864 - April 9, 1865

　　Battle of Monocacy July 9, 1864

　　Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864

　　Battle of the Crater July 30, 1864

　　Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864 - August 23, 1864

　　Battle of Nashville December 15, 1864 - December 16, 1864

　　Battle of Five Forks April 1, 1865

　　Battle of Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865 keyboard_arrow_right The approach to the Confederate line was slowed by muddy roads and tangled undergrowth, and Warren was unable to attack until 4:00 PM. Faulty intelligence, however, had led Sheridan to imagine the left flank much further to the east than it actually was. As a result, one of Warren’s three divisions missed the line altogether while another took heavy enfilade fire as it brushed past the flank. The two Union divisions floundered for a time while they sorted out their positions until Sheridan led a charge by one of the divisions and broke through the Confederate flank; Colonel Joshua Chamberlain quickly brought his brigade and then the rest of General Romeyn B. Ayres’s division into the fight as well. As the Confederates tried to organize a new defensive line, Warren’s third, reserve division attacked while Sheridan’s cavalry swept around the other Confederate flank to attack from the rear.

　　The Union victory was decisive, separating Lee’s right flank from the rest of his army. Even so, Sheridan summarily relieved Warren of his command on the grounds that Warren had been too cautious in the battle. It was not until a 100-day-long inquest was held in 1879 that Warren was able to clear his name, with Sheridan’s dismissal ultimately deemed unjustified.

　　Faced with this major defeat, Lee was forced to evacuate Petersburg, leaving the Confederate capital of Richmond essentially undefended. With his remaining soldiers, Lee intended to retreat to North Carolina and reorganize there to fight on, but Grant’s vastly more numerous forces blocked the way south, forcing Lee to withdraw to Appomattox, about 85 miles west of Five Forks, where he surrendered his army to Grant eight days later.

　　Losses: Union, 830 of 17,000; Confederate, 2,950 of 9,200.

　　Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now