Battle of White Oak Road

Prelude

On March 30 Gen. Lee (CSA) sent reinforcements to meet the Union effort to turn his right flank. He placed Gen. Pickett (CSA) in charge of a Confederate force to meet and keep Gen. Sheridan (USA) from cutting the South Side Railroad.

Meanwhile, Gen. Warren's (USA) V Corps entrenched along the Boydton Plank Road. Confederates under Gen. Johnson (CSA) at White Oak Road prepared to meet their advance.

March 31, 1865
Morning

The next morning part of the V Corps advanced towards the Confederate line along White Oak Road. It was met by a Confederate assault and the Union troops broke and fled to the rear.

Afternoon

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

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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