150 Years Ago Today at Petersburg: March 31, 1865

March 31, 1865

The engagement at Dinwiddie Court-House, VA, where Maj. Gen. George Pickett, CSA, repels the attacks by Maj. Gens. Philip H. Sheridan, and Gouverneur Warren, USA, however retreating to Five Forks, which weakens the Petersburg, VA, line, which will ultimately help cause the final break in Lee’s defensive position.

The engagement at the White Oak Road, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

Action at Crow’s House, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

Action at Hatcher’s Run, or Boydton Road, VA, the Richmond, VA, Campaign.

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

Mentions of This Date at The Siege of Petersburg Online:

• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House: March 31, 1865
• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of White Oak Road: March 31, 1865
• Actions Around Petersburg Wikipedia Map: March 29-April 1, 1865
• CLARK NC: 1st North Carolina Cavalry at the Siege of Petersburg
• CLARK NC: 2nd North Carolina Cavalry at the Siege of Petersburg
• CLARK NC: 13th North Carolina at the Siege of Petersburg
• CLARK NC: 25th North Carolina at the Siege of Petersburg
• CLARK NC: 27th North Carolina at the Siege of Petersburg
• CV: V29N6: Life Among Bullets—In The Rifle Pits
• DEBATE: Was Sheridan Justified in Relieving Warren at Five Forks, Part 1
• DEBATE: Was Sheridan Justified in Relieving Warren at Five Forks, Part 2
• Petersburg Medals of Honor: Attracted General Custer’s Attention
• History and Tour Guide of Five Forks, Hatcher’s Run and Namozine Church by Chris Calkins
• The Last Campaign of the War: Albert Stickney’s Unpublished Five Forks Manuscript, Chapter 1
• The Last Campaign of the War: Albert Stickney’s Unpublished Five Forks Manuscript, Chapter 2
• LT: March 31, 1865 Robert E. Lee
• LT: March 31, 1865 Theodore Lyman
• LT: April 1, 1865 Robert E. Lee
• MAP: Map of the Battlefield of Five Forks, VA. April 1st 1865 and of Field of Operation Preliminary to It Showing the Operations of the Fifth Army Corps Commanded by Maj. Gen. G. K. Warren (Chamberlain, Passing of the Armies)
• MAP: Area of Boydton Plank Road and Hatcher’s Run: March 1865 (Lyman Letters)
• Map No 3 Battle-Field of Dinwiddie C.H. Fought Friday March 31st, 1865 (OR Atlas 74:2)
• Message Traffic Between Grant, Meade, and Warren: Night of March 31-April 1, 1865
• MHSM Papers V6: Operations of the Fifth Corps on the Left, March 29 to Nightfall March 31, 1865: Gravelly Run
• MOLLUS ME V1: The Military Operations on the White Oak Road, Virginia, March 31, 1865 by Brevet Major-General Joshua L. Chamberlain
• MOLLUS ME V2: Five Forks by Joshua L. Chamberlain
• MOLLUS WI V1: Assault on the Lines of Petersburg, April 2, 1865 by Charles H. Anson
• NP: April 3, 1865 Richmond Examiner: Operations on the Southside, March 28-31, 1865
• NP: April 3, 1865 Richmond Examiner: The War News, March 31-April 2, 1865: Richmond is Doomed
• NP: January 3, 1894 Raleigh News Observer Chronicle: Battle of Chamberlain Run, March 31, 1865
• NP: December 6, 1945 Baldwinsville NY Messenger: 185th New York at Petersburg, Part 5
• NP: April 1, 1965 Petersburg Progress-Index: Siege Centennial, Part 39: Five Forks: Signal For Evacuation
• NT: November 10, 1898 National Tribune: The Pennsylvania Reserves from Cold Harbor to Appomattox
• OR LI P1: Report of Colonel Richard N. Batchelder, Chief Quartermaster, AotP, June 30, 1864 – June 30, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #1: Report of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, commanding U.S. Army, March 1864-May, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #2: Abstract from Tri-Monthly Returns, showing PFDE, US Army, Jan 31, Feb 28, Mar 20, Mar 31, and Apr 10, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #4: Itineraries of the Army of the Potomac, Sheridan’s Cavalry Command, and the Army of the James, January-April 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #92: Report of Surg. T. Rush Spencer, Medical Director, V/AotP, Feb 5-Apr 30, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #4: Report of Major General George G. Meade, commanding Army of the Potomac, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #6: Report of Surg. Thomas A. McParlin, Medical Director, Army of the Potomac, Jan 1-Jun 30, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #7: Report of Surg. John A. Lidell, Inspector of Medical and Hospital Dept, Army of the Potomac, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #9: Report of Captain Charles L. Davis, Chief Signal Officer, AotP, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #12: Report of Brigadier General Henry W. Benham, commanding Eng/AotP, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #14: Reports of Bvt. Major Franklin Harwood, commanding US Eng Bn, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #15: Report of Bvt. Major William H. Paine, Aide-de-Camp to Maj. Gen. James C. Duane, Eng/AotP, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #16: Report of Bvt. Captain Charles W. Howell, U. S. Corps of Engineers, II/AOTP, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #17: Report of Lieutenant Charles B. Phillips, U. S. Corps of Engineers, IX/AOTP, March 28-April 4, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #19: Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry L. Abbot, 1st CTHA, commanding Siege Train, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #20: Report of Lieutenant William H. Rogers, commanding det. 1st CTHA, March 31-April 3, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #21: Reports of Major General Andrew A. Humphreys, commanding II/AotP, March 29-April 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #22: Report of Surg. Charles Page, Medical Director, II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 10, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #23: Reports of Asst. Surg. Charles Smart, Medical Inspector, II/AotP, Mar 1-Apr 30, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #24: Report of Captain John G. Pelton, 14th CT, Chief of Ambulances, II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #25: Reports of Bvt. Major General Nelson A. Miles, commanding 1/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #26: Report of Colonel George W. Scott, 61st NY, commanding 1/1/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #27: Report of Captain Lucius H. Ives, 26th MI, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #28: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Welcome A. Crafts, 5th NH, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #29: Report of Capt. Francis R. Humphreys, 2nd NYHA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #30: Report of Major George W. Schaffer, Sixty-first New York Infantry, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #31: Report of Captain William A. F. Stockton, 140th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #32: Report of Colonel Robert Nugent, 69th NY, commanding 2/1/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #33: Report of Captain Patrick H. Bird, 28th MA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #34: Report of Captain William H. Terwilliger, 63rd NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #35: Report of Lieutenant Colonel James J. Smith, 69th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #36: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Denis F. Burke, 88th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #37: Report of Major Seward F. Gould, 4th NYHA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #38: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Clinton D. MacDougall, 111th NY, commanding 3/1/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #39: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Pokorny, 7th NY (Veteran), Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #40: Report of Major John McE. Hyde, 39th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #41: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Karples, 52nd NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #42: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Lewis W. Husk, 111th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #43: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hyde, 125th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #44: Report of Captain I. Hart Wilder, 126th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #45: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General John Ramsey, 8th NJ, commanding 4/1/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #46: Report of Lieutenant Colonel William Glenny, 64th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #47: Report of Captain Nathaniel P. Lane, 66th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #48: Report of Colonel William M. Mintzer, 53rd PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #49: Report of Captain John R. Weltner, 116th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #50: Report of Captain James H. Hamlin, 145th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #51: Report of Captain John F. Sutton, 148th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #52: Report of Colonel George T. Egbert, 183rd PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #53: Report of Brigadier General William Hays, commanding 2/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 5, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #55: Report of Colonel William A. Olmsted, 59th NY, commanding 1/2/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #56: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Spaulding, 19th ME, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #57: Report of Colonel James P. McIvor, 170th NY, commanding 2/2/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #58: Report of Colonel Daniel Woodall, 1st DE, commanding 3/2/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #62: Report of Lieutenant Colonel George F. Hopper, 10th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #63: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Francis E. Pierce, 108th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #65: Report of Captain John H. Gallager, 106th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #66: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Francis W. H. Baldwin, 7th WV, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #67: Report of Brigadier General Regis de Trobriand, commanding 3/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #68: Report of Brigadier General Regis de Trobriand, commanding 1/3/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 6, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #70: Report of Brigadier General Byron R. Pierce, commanding 2/3/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #71: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Robert McAllister, 11th NJ, commanding 3/3/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #72: Report of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel John G. Hazard, 1st RI Lt Arty, commanding Arty/II/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #73: Report of Captain J. Webb Adams, 10th Btty MA Lt Arty, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #74: Reports of Major General Gouverneur K. Warren, commanding V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #76: Report of Asst. Surg. Charles K. Winne, Medical Inspector, V/AotP, Mar 26-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #77: Report of Bvt. Major General Charles Griffin, commanding 1/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #78: Report of Brigadier General Joshua L. Chamberlain, commanding 1/1/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #79: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Edgar M. Gregory, 91st PA, commanding 2/1/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #80: Reports of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Myers, 187th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #81: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Doolittle, 188th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #85: Report of Captain George R. Abbott, 1st ME SS Bn, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #91: Reports of Bvt. Major General Romeyn B. Ayres, commanding 2/V/AotP, Mar 30-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #92: Reports of Brigadier General Joseph Hayes, commanding 1/2/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #93: Reports of Colonel David L. Stanton, 1st MD, commanding 2/2/V/AotP, Mar 31-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #94: Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General James Gwyn, 118th PA, commanding 3/2/V/AotP, Mar 31-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #96: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Edward L. Witman, 210th PA, Mar 31-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #98: Reports of Colonel John A. Kellogg, 6th WI, commanding 1/3/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #99: Report of Colonel Jonathan Tarbell, 91st NY, Mar 29-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #101: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Rouse S. Egelston, 97th NY, Mar 29-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #102: Report of Colonel Thomas F. McCoy, 107th PA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #103: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Richard Coulter, 11th PA, commanding 3/3/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #104: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Charles S. Wainwright, 1st NY Lt Arty, commanding Arty/V/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #153: Report of Major General John G. Parke, commanding IX/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #154: Report of Bvt. Major General Orlando B. Willcox, commanding 1/IX/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #161: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Adolph Becker, 46th NY, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #162: Report of Colonel James Bintliff, 38th WI, commanding 3/1/IX/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 8, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #170: Report of Bvt. Major General John F. Hartranft, commanding 3/IX/AotP, Mar 30-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #187: Report of Captain Edward W. Rogers, 19th NY Btty, Mar 30-Apr 3, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #191: Report of Captain Samuel H. Rhoads, Btty D PA Lt Arty, Mar 30-Apr 2, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #199: Reports of Major General Philip H. Sheridan, commanding Cav/Union, Mar 26-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #200: Report of Bvt. Major General Wesley Merritt, commanding Cav/AotS, Mar 28-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #201: Report of Brigadier General Thomas C. Devin, commanding 1/Cav/AotS, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #202: Report of Brigadier General Alfred Gibbs, commanding ReserveBrig/1/Cav/AotS, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #203: Report of Bvt. Major General George A. Custer, commanding 3/Cav/AotS, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #204: Report of Colonel Alexander C. M. Pennington, 3rd NJ Cav, commanding 1/3/Cav/AotS, Mar 29-Apr 1, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #205: Report of Major James Bliss, 8th NY Cav, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #206: Report of Colonel John J. Coppinger, 15th NY Cav, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #207: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Hall, 1st VT Cav, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #208: Report of Major General George Crook, commanding 2/Cav/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #209: Report of Brigadier General Henry E. Davies, Jr., commanding 1/2/Cav/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #210: Report of Major Walter R. Robbins, 1st NJ Cav, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #211: Report of Colonel Samuel B. M. Young, 4th PA Cav, commanding 2/2/Cav/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #212: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Charles H. Smith, 1st Me Cav, commanding 3/2/Cav/AotP, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #213: Report of Major General Edward O. C. Ord, commanding Army of the James, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #214: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Peter S. Michie, Chief Engineer, AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #219: Report of Major General John Gibbon, commanding XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #221: Reports of Brigadier General Robert S. Foster, commanding 1/XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #222: Report of Colonel Thomas O. Osborn, 39th IL, commanding 1/1/XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #223: Report of Captain Homer A. Plympton, 39th IL, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #225: Report of Colonel James C. Briscoe, 199th PA, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #226: Report of Colonel George B. Dandy, 100th NY, commanding 3/1/XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #227: Report of Captain Francis G. Hickerson, 10th CT, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #228: Report of Captain Henry C. Adams, 11th ME, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #229: Report of Captain Edwin Nichols, 100th NY, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #230: Report of Colonel Harrison S. Fairchild, 89th NY, commanding 4/1/XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #231: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. True, 8th ME, Mar 27-Apr 6, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #234: Report of Colonel John B. Murray, 148th NY, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #235: Report of Lieutenant Colonel William H. McNary, 158th NY, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #236: Report of Captain George H. Hill, 55th PA, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #240: Report of Bvt. Major General John W. Turner, commanding Ind/XXIV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #245: Report of Captain George T. Anthony, 17th NY Btty, Mar 26-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #253: Report of Colonel James Shaw, Jr., 7th USCT, commanding 1/2/XXV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #254: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Ulysses Doubleday, 45th USCT, commanding 2/2/XXV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #255: Report of Colonel Samuel C. Armstrong, 8th USCT, Mar 28-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #256: Report of Colonel Llewellyn F. Haskell, 41st USCT, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #258: Report of Lieutenant Colonel James Givin, 127th USCT, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #259: Report of Colonel William W. Woodward, 116th USCT, commanding 3/2/XXV/AotJ, Mar 27-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #266: Medals of Honor, Mar 31-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #267: Reports of General Robert E. Lee, commanding Army of Northern Virginia, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #273: Report of Major General Bushrod R. Johnson, commanding Johnson/Fourth/ANV, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865
• OR XLVI P1 #277: Report of Major General Fitzhugh Lee, commanding Cav/ANV, Mar 28-Apr 9, 1865
• Position of the Fifth Corps at 10:30 am on March 31, 1865 (Official Records)
• Position of the Fifth Corps on the Night of March 31, 1865 (Official Records)
• SHS Papers: Volume 14: Campaign of 1864 and 1865 by Charles W. Field
• The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House: March 31, 1865
• The Battle of White Oak Road CWPT Map
• The Battle of White Oak Road: March 31, 1865
• The Battle of White Oak Road: March 31, 1865 (Maine MOLLUS Vol. 1)
• The Battle of White Oak Road NPS Map: Aftermath
• The Battle of White Oak Road NPS Map: March 31, 1865 Afternoon
• The Battle of White Oak Road NPS Map: March 31, 1865 Morning
• The Battle of White Oak Road NPS Map: Prelude