Battle of Five Forks

Nine months of siege come down to one backwoods intersection. Cut the South Side Railroad here, and Petersburg falls.

Rain turns the roads to soup. Pickett (South) drives Sheridan’s cavalry back, then realizes he has pushed too far and digs in at Five Forks.

Pickett (South) and Fitzhugh Lee (South) ride to the rear for a fish fry. An acoustic shadow swallows the sound of their own line being destroyed.

Sheridan rides into the confusion and turns a near-miss into a rout. Then, in the hour of victory, he relieves Warren (North).

Petersburg falls, Richmond burns, and a week later Lee surrenders at Appomattox. The blow that started the last week of the war.