April 1, 1865
You will see the April Fool was on the Rebels; for they did not know that, the night before, we had sent down an entire corps of infantry (the 5th) to aid the worsted Sheridan. Their infantry had contented itself with retiring from Sheridan’s front, half-way to the White Oak road, and going into camp with a precautionary breastwork in their front. As they lay there, resting, Warren struck them in the flank and swung round, even into their rear, while the cavalry charged their front. After a brief but determined resistance, the enemy broke and fled in wild confusion; 4000 and over were captured and a large part of the rest hopelessly scattered in the woods.1 Thus our movement, which had begun in simple advantage, now grew to brilliant success, and was destined to culminate, within twenty-four hours, in complete victory.
We were up pretty early, as usual, and at 6.30 A.M. were already at Grant’s Headquarters. These were close to Dabney’s Mill, now marked only by a huge pile of sawdust — a veteran battle-ground, marked by two considerable actions and many minor skirmishes. Indeed that whole tract is a network of picket-pits and hasty breastworks. After visiting Humphreys, on the Quaker road, we returned to the Lieutenant-General’s, and here it was that a note from Sheridan told that he was driving the enemy. Grant folded the slip of paper, and, looking at Meade, said, very quietly: “Very well, then I want Wright and Parke to assault to-morrow morning at four o’clock.” These dozen words settled the fate of Petersburg and of Richmond! It was midnight when General Warren suddenly came into our camp, followed by only one Staff officer. I got him something to eat, but was surprised to see no look of gratification at his victory to-day. Poor man! he had been relieved from command of his Corps.2 I don’t know the details, but I have told you of the difficulties he has had with the General, from his tendency to substitute his own judgment for that of his commanding officer. It seems that Grant was much moved against him by this. The General [Meade] had nothing to do with it. I am sorry, for I like Warren.3,4
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- LT: June 12, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 13, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 15, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 16, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 17, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 18, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 19, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 23, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 24, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: June 25, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 1, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 4, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 5, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 6, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 7, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 10, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 12, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 13, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 20, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 22, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 24, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 30, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: July 31, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 1, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 4, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 6, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 8, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 9, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 11, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 12, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 13, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 14, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 16, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 18, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 19, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 20, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 21, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 23, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 24, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 25, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 26, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: August 27, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: September 28, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: September 29, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: September 30, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 2, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 3, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 4, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 6, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 7, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 10, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 11, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 14, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 17, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 27, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 28, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 29, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: October 30, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 6, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 10, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 11, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 12, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 13, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 14, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 16, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 18, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 19, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 22, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 24, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 27, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 28, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 29, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: November 30, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 1, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 3, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 5, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 6, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 8, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 9, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 10, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 11, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 12, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 13, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 14, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: December 15, 1864 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 1, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 2, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 3, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 4, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 5, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 6, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 8, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 10, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 11, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 13, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 18, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 25, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 26, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 28, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 29, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 30, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: March 31, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: April 1, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: April 2, 1865 Theodore Lyman
- LT: April 3, 1865 Theodore Lyman
***
Source/Notes:
- SOPO Editor’s Note: Lyman is referring to the April 1, 1865 Battle of Five Forks. ↩
- SOPO Editor’s Note: Look for an original article today, on the 150th anniversary of the event, a debate between me (Brett Schulte) and Jim Epperson, on the topic of Sheridan relieving Warren. ↩
- Editor’s Note: Theodore Lyman was General George G. Meade’s aide-de-camp from the fall of 1863 through Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. An intelligent and outspoken individual, Lyman’s letters to his wife provide great insight into the happenings at Meade’s headquarters. These letters, taken from the now public domain book Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865; Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox and written by Lyman to his wife, appear here at the Siege of Petersburg Online exactly 150 years to the day after they are written. Since this site is concerned solely with the Siege of Petersburg, the letters start on June 12, 1864 and end on April 3, 1865. See the bottom of this and every other letter for a list of all the letters which have appeared to date. ↩
- Agassiz, George R. Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865; Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox. Boston: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1922, pp. 332-334 ↩