Petersburg National Battlefield - White Oak Road: Afternoon (U.S. National Park Service)

March 31, 1865
Afternoon

White Oak Road - March 31, 1865

Gen. Chamberlain (USA) is literally asked to, and proceeded to, save the V Corps. He led his men into the Confederate charge that had, by that time, lost its cohesion and momentum. His troops continued the counter attack until they pushed the Confederates back into the White Oak Road defenses.

Aftermath

March 31, 1865 - evening

Chamberlain had one of his greatest days, since Gettysburg, having saved the V Corps and in the process cutting off Pickett's force from the main Confederate body.

Pickett, who had, on that same day, stopped and pushed Sheridan back south towards Dinwiddie Court House, found himself forced to fall back to Five Forks to protect his left flank and the roads leading to the South Side Railroad.

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