The Battle of Five Forks fought on April 1, 1865, was a critical engagement near the end of the American Civil War. It represented the last opportunity for the Confederacy to hold its ground against the Union forces. The Confederate Army, under the command of General Robert E. Lee, was in a dire state, with dwindling numbers, limited resources, and the relentless pressure of Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s troops stretching their lines to the breaking point. The battle took place at a crucial junction in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and its outcome was pivotal, leading to the fall of Petersburg and Richmond and ultimately, to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House just eight days later.

The Confederates, aware that their position was untenable, were desperate to defend Five Forks “at all hazards” as it was key to controlling the South Side Railroad, a vital supply line and potential evacuation route2. The Union victory at Five Forks not only inflicted over 1,000 casualties on the Confederates and resulted in the capture of up to 4,000 prisoners, but it also effectively sealed the fate of the Confederacy by cutting off Lee’s final supply line and escape route out of Petersburg.

This introduction sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the Battle of Five Forks, a battle that symbolized the last stand of the Confederacy and marked the beginning of the end of the Civil War.

00:00 Introduction
02:39 The Battle of Five Forks
05:50 Prelude to Battle, The Federals and Confederates Take Up Positions
09:15 Grant Forms His Lines
17:37 The Battle of White Oaks Road
21:41 The Federals Make Their Move
33:27 Pickett Eats While the Federals Clean Up
38:11 The Consequences of Success and Failure
40:16 The Butcher's Bill