GENERAL GEORGE A. CUSTER.



have irritated the impatient cavalry leader. His men had been
out since six o'clock, pushing Pickett back to Five Forks, and
here was Pickett before him, separated by a gap of about
five miles from Lee's army, while Warren, with 15,000 men,
ready to occupy that gap, was letting the precious moments
slip. It seemed almost impossible that Pickett could be fool
enough to stay where he was, to be trapped; and it was much
more reasonable to suppose, from his obstinate attitude, that
Lee was bringing up more forces behind, to serve Sheridan as
he had served Devin. In such a case, an ugly and dishearten-
ing check to the Army of the Potomac, such as had happened
so often before, was pretty certain.
   When at last Warren was up, Sheridan did not hurry him
unduly. McKenzie's little division reported to the general at
the same time, coming down the White Oak road, and brought
the news that the country in that direction was clear, so that it
was settled that the gap between Lee and Pickett really ex-
isted. Sheridan sent back McKenzie to Dinwiddie as a reserve,
and to guard the trains, while Custer and Devin, under Mer-
ritt's orders, proceeded to assault the works at Five Forks,
threatening especially to turn the right flank of the enemy.
Not till one o'clock did Sheridan deem the attack sufficiently
serious to hold the enemy; then he sent word to Warren to
bring up his infantry, which was lying about half a mile from
the works. It was ordered to advance in the following order:
   Ayres and Crawford's divisions in the first line, and Grif-
fin's behind Crawford, were to strike the left of Pickett's line,
and sweep down behind the breastworks, while Custer and
Devin were to charge home in front. Crook was not engaged.
It must be remernbered that Custer and Devin, with only 5,700
men, had been fighting and driving the enemy all the morn-
ing, and that the Fifth Corps had not yet struck a blow that
day. Imiagine then, the impatience with which Sheridan saw
Warren bringing up his corps of 15,000 men, the order given
at one o'clock, and lhe not ready till four. Three whole hours



290