At dark. General W. H. F. Lee and General
Rosser reinforced General Fitz Lee with their di-
visions, giving him, in all, about eight thousand
cavalry, and General Pickett reached Five Forks
at about the same time, with six thousand six




DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE. 171

hundred infantry. General Pickett assumed
command of the combined force. On the morn-
ing of the 31st, General Fitz Lee, moving with
his cavalry on the direct road to Dinwiddie Court
House, met General Devin's division, advancing
upon Five Forks, near the fork of the Gravelly
Bun Church Road. Leaving General Munford
with one division confronting General Devin,
General Lee moved with his other two divisions
of cavalry by way of Little Five Forks, west of
Chamberlain's Bed, or Bun, to Fitzgerald's and
Danse's crossings of that stream, General Pickett
following with the infantry command. General
Crook held Fitzgerald's crossing with General
Smith's brigade, Danse's crossing, a mile above,
with General Davies's brigade, and General Gregg
was in reserve.
Lnmediately on arriving. General W. H. F.
Lee attempted to force the passage of Fitzgerald's
crossing. He got over, but was driven back
with heavy loss. The enemy's cavalry failed also
to effect a crossing at Danse's ; but the infantry
coming up. General Corse's brigade leading, suc-
ceeded after sharp fighting and severe loss. Gen-
eral Gregg holding them for a time. Meanwhile,
General Munford was forcing General Devin
back, and General Pickett's infantry now pushing
General Davies upon General Devin's left, forced
their way in between General Devin and General
Crook. General Gibbs, however, withdrew his
brigade of General Devin's division, in time to



172 GRANT VS, THE RECORD.
