After months of siege and costly maneuvering in its defense, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was at last convinced that his final efforts to defend the city of Petersburg, Virginia had failed and ordered the city's evacuation. Stores of tobacco and cotton, along with the Norfork Railroad Depot were destroyed and the last of Lee's troops crossed the Appomattox River and began their attempt to regroup at Danville, Virginia. (By John Osborne)

Major Horatio Collins King, son of a former Postmaster General and a 1858 Dickinson College graduate, was serving as Chief Quartermaster to a division of Sheridan's cavalry when Confederate forces tried to drive Union troops away from the vital Five Forks crossroads. In heavy and confused fighting, King volunteered to carry messages that help firm Sheridan's lines and then joined the cavalry charge that retained the Union's initiative.  His bravery was recognised later with the Medal of Honor on September 23, 1897.  (By John Osborne)  

Frederic Winthrop, from a distinguished and wealthy New York family, was the cousin of Union Major Theodore Winthrop, who had been killed at Big Bethel in 1861 in one the first pitched battles of the war.  Winthrop had been killed at Five Forks in one of the last, almost four years later.  His funeral was in New York City at the Trinity Church on April 12, 1865 where he was buried with full military honors.  His fellow generals and officers from the Fifth Corps were his pallbearers.  (By John Osborne)  

Frederic Winthrop, from a distinguished and wealthy New York family, was the cousin of Union Major Theodore Winthrop, who had been killed at Big Bethel in 1861 in one the first pitched battles of the war.  Winthrop was mortally wounded while leading his brigade in a frontal assault on Confederate emplacements at the Battle of Five Forks.  His funeral was in New York City at the Trinity Church on April 12, 1865.  His fellow generals from the Fifth Corps were among his pallbearers.  (By John Osborne)  

Union General James Wilson was in the second week of a massive three division cavalry raid into Alabama when he reached the heavily fortified town of Selma, prized for its munitions works. His 13,500 men met a hastily gathered Confederate force of around 4000 largely poorly trained defenders, including civilian volunteers, under General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Fierce fighting saw Wilson's men take the town with very heavy casualties on both sides.  (By John Osborne)   

Union General James Wilson was in the second week of a massive three division cavalry raid into Alabama when most of his 13,500 men met a hastily gathered Confederate cavalry force of 2000 poorly trained militia under General Nathan Bedford Forrest near Ebenezer Church in central Alabama.  Forrest fought well and he himself was wounded but the Confederates were swept aside and pushed back towards the town of Selma.  (By John Osborne)