Grant, more
disturbed than Sheridan himself, rained orders and suggestions all
night to effect a concentration at daylight on that portion of the enemy
in front of Sheridan; but Pickett, finding himself out of position,
silently withdrew during the night, and resumed his strongly intrenched
post at Five Forks. Here Sheridan followed him on April 1, and repeated
the successful tactics of his Shenandoah valley exploits so brilliantly
that Lee's right was entirely shattered.
This battle of Five Forks should have ended the war. Lee's right was
routed; his line had been stretched westward until it broke; there was
no longer any hope of saving Richmond, or even of materially delaying
its fall. But Lee apparently thought that even the gain of a day was of
value to the Richmond government, and what was left of his Army of
Northern Virginia was still so perfect in discipline that it answered
with unabated spirit every demand made upon it. Grant, who feared Lee
might get away from Petersburg and overwhelm Sheridan on the White Oak
road, directed that an assault be made all along the line at four
o'clock on the morning of the second. His officers responded with
enthusiasm; and Lee, far from dreaming of attacking any one after the
stunning blow he had received the day before, made what hasty
preparations he could to resist them.
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