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[583] westward, parallel with Hatcher's Run, and along what is known as the White Oak road. This line directly covered Lee's main communication by the Southside Railroad. Four miles further to the west of the termination of this intrenched front a detached line, running also along the White Oak road, covered an important strategic point where several roads from the north and south, converging on the White Oak road, form what is known as the Five Forks. With this, however, we have no immediate concern, as the advance of Warren and Humphreys led not against this isolated position of the enemy, but against the right flank of Lee's continuous line. The distance to be traversed by the turning column was not great, but progress was toilsome and through a difficult country. When Warren, on the left, moving by the Quaker road, had advanced to within about two miles of the Confederate position, the resistance, which as thus far encountered had been easily swept away by the skirmishers, became more spirited, and the leading division under Griffin was assailed by a line of battle. A warm action ensued, the brunt of which was borne by Chamberlain's brigade. Griffin was able to hold his own and repulse the Confederates, who left in his hands a hundred prisoners and their dead and wounded. The Union loss was about three hundred and seventy in killed and wounded. After this, Warren pressed on until he drew the fire from the Confederate intrenched line on the White Oak road. Humphreys, on the right of Warren, continued his advance through a dense forest and undergrowth. He had neared, but not struck, the enemy's main line when darkness stayed his further progress. While affairs thus passed with the infantry, the column of horse under Sheridan, sweeping a more adventurous radius, was manoeuvring further to the left. That evening, after slight opposition, Sheridan occupied Dinwiddie Courthouse, six miles southwest of where the troops of Warren and Humphreys lay on their arms. Such was the situation of affairs on the night of the 29th.
1866.
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