Five Forks, April 1, 1865

Next morning we easily crowded Picket's line back into their
works at Five Forks. After Custer had put every regiment in
our division on to their works but ours, he sent the band to
play us "Garry Owen," and calling me up, said, "I am going
to put you in now," pointing to a piece of woods which proved
to be in front of the extreme right of their w^orks ; "I want
you to take that point of woods. Move across the plateau,
where the artillery will rake you, as rapidly as possible. If
you get the woods, hold them, and I will be up with the whole
division." We moved out by squadron, and when I thought
we had got far enough to have the whole regiment in column,
glancing to my left to see if the shells were causing any dis
order, I saw Custer with his battle flag up even with the first
page 304 ends) Squadron. He put the division in so quickly that the Fifteenth
New York ran through our regiment, and part of it followed
me and part of ours followed Custer. We got the corner of
woods, taking an infantry skirmish line at the edge and another
when about half way through it, and rode up within a hundred
and fifty yards of their works, and kept their heads down until
we were out of ammunition. We then drew back and formed
in the woods and sent for ammunition. While waiting: and
listening, the roar of battle kept rolling in nearer on our right.
All at once the enemy in our front jumped from their works
and started to the rear. We were on to their backs as soon as
our horses could carry us, and scooped in every one in the
opening, but those in the woods to our right got away. Their
cavalry came down at us, and we crashed into them and they
turned to the rear. It was getting dark, and as Custer was
crowding their cavalry toward us we concluded to get out with
the prisoners we had. In going back we saw our infantry
advancing in a beautiful line, but as soon as they saw us they
commenced firing at us. We halted, and a man sent to tell
them it was our own cavalry had his horse shot and came back.
I took out my handkerchief, and waving it rode down toward
them, and seeing a flag carried by mounted men in their line,
rode to it and found General Warren, who was carrying his
own flag, told him he was firing on our own cavalry, and he
sent an aide each way and stopped the firing.

"Six Months in the Third Cavalry Division Under Custer" by W.G. Cummings, 1st Vermont Cavalry
in "War Sketches and Incidents As Related By Companions of the Iowa Commandery, Miliary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States", Volume 1 (Des Mointes, Iowa: Press of P.C. Kenyon, 1893), pp. 304-305
https://ia801306.us.archive.org/13/items/warsketchesincid01mili/warsketchesincid01mili.pdf