When picket retreated from Denwittie courthouse to five Forks, the army of the Shenandoah union Cavalry under Wesley Merritt followed him. George Armstrong Custer and his third division advanced towards the confederate right flank. General Thomas Devin and his first divisionmoved against the confederate left Link

This is the story of the skirmishing between Devin and confederate infantry

General thomas Devin's report: official records, volume 46 part oneP. 1123

On the morning of April 1 the division, nothing daunted by the repulse of the two previous days, again moved toward the stubbornly contested battle‑ground of the Five Forks. Colonel Stagg, with the First Brigade, met the enemy as usual at Chamberlain's Swamp, and an infantry line was immediately developed, showing that the position was not to be taken without a hard fight. The whole of the Second Brigade was now dismounted, and Colonel Fitzhugh was ordered to cross the swamp, gain a position on the opposite side, and cover the crossing of the First Brigade mounted. The movement was gallantly effected under a heavy fire, and the First U. S. Cavalry and First, and Sixth Michigan Cavalry were crossed on the left of the brigade, while the Fifth Michigan was crossed upon the right to cover that flank. The Reserve Brigade was thrown out upon the right and rear in the direction of the White Oak road. A charge was now ordered to gain the wood in

p. 1124

front of the Forks. The Second Brigade, flanked by the cavalry, gallantly advanced at the charging step, and, driving the enemy clear through the woods, developed a strong line of breast‑works, covering the Forks and filled with masses of infantry. In this advance the cavalry charged up to within twenty yards of the works, and the dismounted men of the Second Brigade captured and dragged off prisoners from the breast‑works. Captain Ham, of Seventeenth Pennsylvania, was mortally wounded at this point. But the work was too strongly held for our line to carry, and the brigade was forced to retire to the wood. The line was thus held until 4.30 p.m., when a brigade of Third Cavalry Division having connected upon our left, and the Fifth Corps advancing to attack the enemy's right flank, the whole division was dismounted and ordered to advance and again charge the enemy's works. Captain Lord, First U. S. Cavalry, was ordered to keep his regiment mounted and in readiness to charge should the enemy's line be broken. The whole line advanced under a terrible fire from the enemy's works; but the regiment on the right of Third Division giving way, the Third Division was halted and reformed. On the second charge the troops on our left again fell back; but notwithstanding this defection, the division pressed forward the enemy's works were carried after an obstinate struggle, the right was connected with the left of Fifth Corps, the front of the division changed to the left, and the enemy pursued for two miles. As the works were carried Captain Lord was ordered to charge with his regiment, and gallantly responded, clearing the breast‑works at a bound, and charging far in advance of the division. In carrying the position we captured on our own front 1,000 prisoners, 2 battle‑flags, and 2 guns. Thanks to the friendly cover of the woods, which extended to within less than forty yards of the enemy's works, our loss was comparatively light, except in officers. In some regiments every squadron commander was killed or wounded.

—-
The G. K. Warren Court of inquiry

Testimony of Hastings page 1 065

Page 1065

Question, what orders did you receive and what did you do under those orders

Answer, we were instructed to advance upon the enemy and did so, mounted

Question About what time was that?

answer. That was about daylight

question what resistance if any did you meet upon your March?

answer, we found the enemy in light force, and apparently retiring. There were some lighter works that were temporary brush works, behind which the enemy were, and we charged, mounted at first, and drove them from some of the lighter line of works; and, as I say, they seem to fall back very easily until we arrived at their main works at five for

question about what time of day did you arrive in front of their main works

answer I think it was somewhere between two and 3 o'clock – – perhaps later; and it seems to me it was about 3 o'clock near that
——
Court of inquiry page 955 Testimony of lieutenant colonel C. Durland17th Pennsylvania Calvary

Question in going up to five Forks did you meet with any resistance from the enemy beyond this?

Answer. Yes

question state the character of it

Answer out, I should say, a distance of perhaps a mile or a mile and a half we met. It was mounted from troops, the support of picket. I should say which we drove back until we came to the edge of an open field; there were some dismounted troops, some temporary breastworks.. And I just mounted my command there, a little ways in front, and those we drove back And across and open field to the edge of the woods again. After halting a little We then moved forward again and drove them from the temporary works near the road.

Question then you met a second line of temporary works?

Answer yes; the first line did not amount to much; it was very simple and very slight indeed – – only a little barricade in the road Throwing down and a few trees. The second Line Was quite a line

Question, what sort of fight did you have there? Answer we had a Wright lively little time. We got up to a second line of work From which we drove them that we held for sometime Question about what time Did you get to the works in front of fire – – the permanent line, the main line answer it is my impression that we took possession of the second line of temporary works as you may call it, somewhere around 11 o'clock; it might've been a little before that. We lay there and tapped up a pretty strong skirmish fire until 1:30 or 2 o'clock, and then made an advance again upon

—-

Testimony of Lieutenant Edward E. Wood17th Pennsylvania.

Page 831

question, where were you on the morning of April 1, 1865

answer we broke camp, I think, about daybreak – – it may have been a little after – – and moved out on the direct road from DINWIDDIE to five forks, and sometime after leaving DINWIDDIE we passed a large force of infantry on the right of the road; then continued our March on this road until we arrived in front of the open space traversed by Chamberlain's bed. Here was the brigade was dismounted and formed massed on the edge of the woods, and advanced across this open space. Opposite that the enemy has thrown up a temporary line of breastworks, rails and earth, and were occupying that. We drove them out, and pursued them through the woods in the direction of the forks, and on arriving there, the fire was so heavy from the main line that we were forced to come back. We came back as far as the edge of the woods, where the rebel line had been; remained there sometime, and while there we were issued ammunition, as we had expended the supply received that morning in this engagement that we had here. Then we advanced again, and I suppose about midway between the Northerly edge of the woods and the enemies line, on the White Oak Road – – there we remained some two or three hours. I think when we got to this position here it must've been between one and 2 o'clock, just south of five Forks; a little east of it

our final advance was made about an hour and a half before sunset. The direct roads to five Forks must have passed through the line formed by my brigade because when we went over, The works at five horse [page ends.]