But his purpose developed
from hour to hour, and before he had been away from his winter
headquarters one day, he gave up this comparatively narrow scheme, and
adopted the far bolder plan which he carried out to his immortal honor.
He ordered Sheridan not to go after the railroads, but to push for the
enemy's right rear, writing him: "I now feel like ending the matter....
We will act all together as one army here, until it is seen what can be
done with the enemy."
On the thirtieth, Sheridan advanced to Five Forks, where he found a
heavy force of the enemy. Lee, justly alarmed by Grant's movements, had
despatched a sufficient detachment to hold that important cross-roads,
and taken personal command of the remainder on White Oak Ridge. A heavy
rain-storm, beginning on the night of the twenty-ninth and continuing
more than twenty-four hours, greatly impeded the march of the troops. On
the thirty-first, Warren, working his way toward the White Oak road, was
attacked by Lee and driven back on the main line, but rallied, and in
the afternoon drove the enemy again into his works. Sheridan, opposed by
Pickett with a large force of infantry and cavalry, was also forced
back, fighting obstinately, as far as Dinwiddie Court House, from which
point he hopefully reported his situation to Grant at dark.
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