Near Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Union Cavalry Attacks
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
1. The Union Cavalry Attacks Marker at Five Forks
“I was exceedingly anxious to attack at once, for the sun was getting low, and we had to fight or go back.”
- Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan
On March 31, 1865, Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan retreated down this road to Dinwiddie Court House, driven by Pickett’s Confederates. On April 1, the Federal cavalrymen returned – with a vengeance.
Late that afternoon Sheridan deployed his two divisions in a two-mile line on both sides of this road. A half mile in front stood Pickett’s men, entrenched around Five Forks. As Warren’s Union infantry swept down on Pickett’s lines from the east and, eventually, the north, Sheridan’s dismounted troopers charged the Confederate works from the south. Outmaneuvered and outnumbered, the Confederates gave way.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1865.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 8.078′ N, 77° 36.979′ W. Marker was near Dinwiddie, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County.
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Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Southside Virginia, and specifically in Central Virginia. It was also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: "I was exceeding anxious to attack at once…" (within shouting distance of this marker); The Siege of Petersburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); Siege of Petersburg — The Linchpin is Pulled (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Advanced…repulsed…charged again…" (approx. ¼ mile away); "The woods were quite heavy..."
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
2. The Union Cavalry Attacks Marker
The marker is on the road that Sheridan's cavalry used to approach Five Forks from Dinwiddie Court House on April 1, 1865.
More about this marker. The background of the marker shows Gen. Sheridan and a group of mounted cavalrymen getting directions from a local man. The caption reads Major General Philip Sheridan and his commanders at Dinwiddie Court House, prior to the Battle of Five Forks.
The bottom left of the marker contains a map showing the Confederate fortifications around Five Forks, and the Union line of attack.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Also see . . .
1. Five Forks Battlefield. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Battle of Five Forks (Petersburg National Battlefield). National Park Service website entry (Submitted on February 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
3. The Union Cavalry Attacks Marker on Courthouse Road
This road leads to the vital Five Forks intersection. Sheridan's cavalrymen retreated to Dinwiddie Court House on this road on March 31, 1965, and used it the next day to attack Five Forks.
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 20, 2010
4. The Union Cavalry Attacks Marker
Five Forks Battlefield Tour Stop #1
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
5. Five Forks Battle Map
The map shows the Confederate fortifications around Five Forks. Sheridan brought more than 6,000 dismounted cavalrymen to the frontal attack against Pickett (3,000 more remained at Dinwiddie CH). Warren had 12,000 infantrymen for his flank attack.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 24, 2007
6. Five Forks Intersection
The cannon placed here at Five Forks points down Courthouse Road, the direction from which Sheridan's men were attacking. It fell in the fighting of April 1, 1865.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,020 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on August 8, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 5, 6. submitted on March 15, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
