Five Forks Battlefield
Encyclopedia
Five Forks Battlefield is the area where, late in the American Civil War
, General Grant's troops broke the extended lines of General Lee's Confederate forces, cutting the last rail line supporting Petersburg, causing the Confederates to abandon that city, and in turn undermining the defense of Richmond. Final surrender of the Confederate forces would occur at Appomatox Courthouse two weeks later.
in 1960.
The battlefield area nearly all the area of fighting, and it includes a home named "Burnt Quarter". It includes the location of a shad bake (a fish feast), where General Pickett, unaware of the battle going on, was entertained. It is reported that unusual cloud conditions prevented the sound of artillery from carrying as far as it usually would.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, General Grant's troops broke the extended lines of General Lee's Confederate forces, cutting the last rail line supporting Petersburg, causing the Confederates to abandon that city, and in turn undermining the defense of Richmond. Final surrender of the Confederate forces would occur at Appomatox Courthouse two weeks later.
Battle
In the battle on April 1, 1865, Union troops under Warren, Hancock and others broke through Pickett's lines.Commemoration
The battle area was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1960.
The battlefield area nearly all the area of fighting, and it includes a home named "Burnt Quarter". It includes the location of a shad bake (a fish feast), where General Pickett, unaware of the battle going on, was entertained. It is reported that unusual cloud conditions prevented the sound of artillery from carrying as far as it usually would.