March 7, 1865
Francis H. Pierpont, Governor of Union controlled Virginia, asks Ulysses S. Grant to protect the Governor’s mansion and capitol building in Richmond after the fall of that city, as he expects to move in!
Scout of the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry to Lee’s Mill.
Fitzhugh Lee is ordered up the James River to oppose the cavalry divisions of Philip H. Sheridan, who is moving down the James in the direction of Richmond.
Robert E. Lee asks Governor William Smith of Virginia to provide an emergency force of reserves and other troops totaling 5,000 men to man the trenches near Richmond and free up Pickett’s Division for service against Sheridan.
General James Longstreet orders Gary’s Cavalry Brigade to patrol on the north side of the James River west of Richmond.
General Pickett to take his division and proceed to Lynchburg Virginia, but Robert E. Lee has already telegraphed Pickett and asked him to be ready for further orders after marching into Richmond. All of this is in response to the approach of Sheridan’s Union cavalry.
Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Order the book HERE.
Copyright © 1993, 1994 by Ronald A. Mosocco