March 31st, 1865 - The Battle of White Oak Road

Conflict: American Civil War

Combatants: Confederates vs. Federals

Location: Virginia (USA)

Outcome: Nominal Confederate victory

Over three days time, Union General Phillip Sheridan's advance in Virginia was halted by the maneuvers of Confederate Generals George Pickett and A. P. Hill. Sheridan's cavalry attempted to encircle the Confederate flank but was in turn encircled and attacked by Pickett' At the same time, Hill attacked Union infantry at White Oak Road. Although this blunted the Union advance, Sheridan would bring in reinforcements and overrun the Confederates at Five Forks the following day (April 1st).

White Oak Road by an unknown artist

Points of Interest:

• A. P. Hill would be killed leading his troops just two days after the Battle of White Oak Road.

• George Pickett was offered, but declined, a commission in the Egyptian army after the war. He became an insurance agent instead.

• Phillip Sheridan was appointed commanding General of the US Army in 1883.

General Phillip Sheridan by an unknown photographer

General George PIckett by an unknown photographer

General A. P. Hill by Mathew Benjamin Brady

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Sources:

Bowman, John S. (Ed.) (1983). The Civil War Almanac. New York: World Almanac.

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

Long, E.B & Long, Barbara (1971). The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865. New York: De Capo Press, Inc.