Short work was made of him. Falling upon
the Federal cavalry, Pickett and Fitzhugh Lee drove them back upon
Dinwiddie--pushed rapidly after them--and, but for the terrible swamp,
into which the late rains had converted the low grounds, would have
followed them to the Court-House, and gotten in rear of the left wing
of the Federal army.
That was the turning point. If Pickett and Fitz Lee had reached
Dinwiddie court-house, and attacked in the enemy's rear, while Lee
assailed them in front, it is difficult to believe that the battle
would not have resulted in a Confederate victory.
Such was the alarm of General Grant at the new aspect of affairs, that
late at night he withdrew Warren, and ordered him to hurry toward
Dinwiddie Court-House, to succor Sheridan in his hour of need. Then if
our flanking column could have pushed on--if Lee had then advanced--but
all this is idle, reader. Providence had decreed otherwise. The
flanking column could not advance--at ten at night it was withdrawn by
Lee--midnight found the two armies resting on their arms, awaiting the
morning of the first of April.
XVIII.
THE BRIDEGROOM.
I have endeavored to present a rapid, but accurate summary of the great
events which took place on the lines around Petersburg, from the
morning of the 29th of March, when General Grant began his general
movement, to the night of the 3lst, when he confronted Lee on the White
Oak road, ready, after a day of incessant combat, which had decided
little, to renew the struggle on the next morning for the possession of
the Southside road.
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