Civil War Battle Of Five Forks

Civil War Battle Of Five Forks

The battle of the Civil War called the Battle of Five Forks was one of the last battles that was between the Confederacy and the Union Forces. It was the last engagement that some consider part of the Petersburg Campaigns, and was fought on April 1st, 1865.

It took place in Dinwiddie County Virginia, and was fought by Union Troops commanded by General Phillip Sheridan of the Union Army, and against soldiers of the Confederacy commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

The Confederates were dug in, and were being held together by commander General George Pickett. General Picket and his forces were in trenches, and their position was pretty important as it was in and around the White Oak Road and South Railroad region. By keeping this location, they would control both the roadway and the South Railroad, and General Lee, the Commanding Confederate Forces commander wanted to keep the position if possible at all costs.

The Union Forces attacked, with superior numbers in the afternoon around 4 pm, and the front of the battle was along a 2 mile stretch that was held by General Pickett and his men.

After the initial charge, General Pickett and his men held out for about a hour, but wound up retreating in the face of superior forces. The Union Forces led by General Sheridan swarmed in and took control of the railroad, the surrounding area,, and the land.

It was an overwhelming and decisive victory for the Union Soldiers and forces, and it helped cause the eventual surrender of the Confederate Forces.

The Confederate Army had fought long and bravely, but slowly had been pushed back and defeated at key locations, one at a time, until the Battle of Five Forks.

It was not very long after the key battle of Five Forks that General Lee and the Confederate Forces had to abandon Richmond Virginia and eventually surrendered about a week later on April 9th, 1865.