History and Tour Guide of Five Forks: Hatcher's Run and Namozine Church

The victory was complete for Sheridan and hís forces. His combined infantry and cavalry had not only gained the strategic road junction at Five Forks, but had scattered the defending enemy troops. The door was wide open for the Union army to gain the South Side Railroad. Grant received word of the breakthrough at Five Forks while at his headquarters...not far from the battlefield. He went into his tent and wrote out several orders that were sent over the telegraph to all points along his Petersburg siege lines. One such fateful telegram read: "I have ordered an immediate assault along the lines."