Battle of Fort Stedman

Nine months in the Petersburg trenches, an army starving and deserting, and Gordon brings Lee a plan to break out before Grant’s noose closes.

Axemen and fake deserters clear the way in the dark; the fort and its batteries fall in an hour, then the breakthrough goes looking for forts that aren’t there.

Parke keeps his head and Hartranft (North) builds a wall of troops around the breach; the captured ground becomes a killing pocket.

4,000 men gone for nothing in four hours. The Army of Northern Virginia’s final attack, and a week later the line breaks for good.