Name: The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House
Other Names: None
Location: Dinwiddie County
Campaign: Appomattox Campaign (March-April 1865)1
Date: March 31, 1865
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan [US]; Maj. Gen. George Pickett and Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee [CS]
Forces Engaged: 65,277 total (US 45,247; CS 20,030)
Estimated Casualties: 821 total
Description: On March 29, with the Cavalry Corps and the II and V Corps, Sheridan undertook a flank march to turn Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Petersburg defenses. A steady downpour turned the roads to mud, slowing the advance. On March 31, Maj. Gen. W.H. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry and Pickett’s infantry division met the Union vanguard north and northwest of Dinwiddie Court House and drove it back, temporarily stalling Sheridan’s movement. With Union infantry approaching from the east, Pickett withdrew before daybreak to entrench at the vital road junction at Five Forks. Lee ordered Pickett to hold this intersection at all hazard.
Result: Confederate victory2
Full Summary: Coming soon
Bibliography:
First Person Accounts:
Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Battle:
- Actions Around Petersburg Wikipedia Map: March 29-April 1, 1865
- Map No 3 Battle-Field of Dinwiddie C.H. Fought Friday March 31st, 1865 (OR Atlas 74:2)
- The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House: March 31, 1865
- Union Casualties in the Appomattox Campaign: March 28-April 9, 1865
Source:
- The CWSAC site classifies the final battles around Petersburg after Fort Stedman as belonging to the Appomattox Campaign. The Siege of Petersburg Online: Beyond the Crater classifies the six battles around Petersburg from March 29-April 2, 1865 as belonging to Grant’s Ninth Offensive against Petersburg, a part of the Petersburg Campaign. ↩
- CWSAC Battle Summary ↩
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