Ord was at his place promptly.  Humphreys and Warren were then on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps.  They were directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position in their places, to cross Hatcher’s Run and extend out west toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the Danville Railroad.  There was considerable fighting in taking up these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses were quite severe.

This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.

CHAPTER LXIV.

INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN—­GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC —­SHERIDAN’S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS—­BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS—­PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY’S LINE—­BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG.

Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March.  His horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their shoes.  A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for moving.  Immediately on General Sheridan’s arrival at City Point I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided upon.  The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.

After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with him by himself —­not in the presence of anybody else, even of a member of my staff.  In preparing his instructions I contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and terminating the contest before separating from the enemy.  But the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never terminate except by compromise.  Knowing that unless my plan proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had received, to act in cooperation with the armies around Petersburg and Richmond.

I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself between the two main armies of the enemy.  I said to him:  “General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely as a blind;” and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore described.  I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should go no farther.  His face at once brightened up, and slapping his hand on his leg he said:  “I am glad to hear it, and we can do it.”