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(2004)
Photo by Donald Hogan |
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(7-05)
Battle of Five Forks, Virginia April 1, 1865
"Waterloo of the Confederacy"
The Five Forks
Three miles to the North of the Five Forks intersection was the South Side
Railroad-Lee's last open supply line to the besieged Army of Northern
Virginia at Petersburg. Confederate General Robert E. Lee gave the order
to Gen. George E. Pickett to "Hold Five Forks at all hazards". For reasons
that are hard to comprehend, Pickett went to eat shad (a type of fish) and
his leaderless troops were defeated. The loss at Five Forks necessitated
the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, setting the stage for the
retreat to Appomattox and the surrender of the Confederate Army of
Northern Virginia
This photo taken July 7, 2005 shows the strategic Five Forks from the CSA
position looking toward the Union approach. All trenches have long
disappeared
Photo/narrative by William Bozic |
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(7-05)
Enlarge
Battle of five Forks Virginia April 1, 1865
Battle Monument
This photo of the monument to the Battle of Five Forks is located near the
intersection of the road which make the five forks. These roads are
Wheeler's Pond (Scott's) Road, White Oak Road, Courthouse Road, and
Courthouse (Ford's) Road. The monument is located where Col Charles
Fitzhugh's Second Brigade of the First Division of the Union Army of the
Shenandoah attacked the Confederate Artillery Battalion under William J.
Pegram (3 guns at the intersection). The photo was taken from a position
looking toward the Union attack
Photo/narrative by William Bozic |
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(7-05)
Battle of Five Forks Virginia, April 1, 1865
NPS Visitor Center
The photo of the National Park Service Visitor Center at Five Forks
Battlefield was taken from behind one of the guns representing Pegram's VA
Artillery Battalion (Note wheel). There is a nice set of maps and book
shop inside
Photo/narrative by William Bozic |
