I propose to post a number of first-person accounts on the role of Barringer's Brigade played at the Battle of Five Forks, April 1, 1865.
“The day before the brigade had forced a passage of Chamberlain's Creek and had suffered 170 killed and wounded. The greatest loss had fallen on the 1st North Carolina Cavalry. Because of its severe losses it was kept out of the fight by General Barringer on April 1st, leaving only the 2nd, 3rd and 5th available for combat.
Pickett's detachment of about 12,000 men occupied a line of intrenchments parallel to and north of the White Oak Road which ran in an east-west line. The intrenchments faced south towards Dinwiddie Court House since Union infantry and cavalry under Gen. Philip Sheridan were expected to come from that direction. Five brigades of infantry held most of the Confederate intrenchments but the dismounted men of the 5th North Carolina Cavalry and McGregor's Battery of horse artillery occupied the far right. The other two regiments of Barringer's Brigade were mounted and held in reserve. South of the brigade was an open field owed by a
family named Gilliam.
Sheridan's plan of attack called for Gen. Wesley Merritt to form his cavalry divisions under Devin and Custer south of Pickett's infantry and to dismount and skirmish with them while Gen. G.K. Warren's V Corps marched to the battlefield and deployed southeast of Pickett's line. Warren was ordered to strike and turn Pickett's left flank. Once they heard heavy firing by the infantry, the cavalry was to charge the Confederate earthworks. There was skirmishing the entire morning and much of the afternoon between Sheridan's cavalry and Pickett's infantry while Sheridan waited for Warren to form his men.
Two of Custer's three brigades were deployed on the Union left in woods with the Gilliam house and the Gilliam tobacco barns in front. At some point in the early afternoon Custer decided to violate his orders and launch a mounted attack at the Confederate rear. He would need his full division so he sent for Wells' brigade which was down by Dinwiddie Court House. Capehart's brigade needed its horses which were also down by Dinwiddie Court House, so Custer ordered them brought up. Capehart's horses arrived at about the same time as Wells's cavalrymen, about 4 p.m. The division was arrayed with Wells on the left, Capehart in the center and Pennington's brigade on the right.
About 4 p.m. Warren's infantry began marching north from Gravelly Run Church. AFter traveling a short distance they struck White Oak Road several hundred yards east of the Confederate line. They then pivoted until their line was perpendicular to the road and attacked the Confederate left flank. Upon hearing the sound of Warren's guns, Merritt ordered his cavalry to attack. Both Capehart and Wells, still dismounted, participated in the attack as did Pennington and the rest of Merritt's cavalry under Devin. The attack was repulsed all along the line. Meanwhile Warren continued his attack against the left flank of Pickett's infantry.
As the afternoon passed Custer finishing planning his attack. In the final version he would mount two of his brigades, ride around the Confederate left and launch a mounted attack into Pickett's rear The idea was to cut off Pickett's retreat up the Ford Road which lay behind Barringer's Brigade. Pennington's brigade was assigned the task of dismounted skirmishing with the Confederate infantry in front. In addition Custer took one regiment from Wells' brigade and ordered it to make a mounted charge on McGregor's battery and the Confederate intrenchements protecing it to prevent the 5th North Carolina from mounting and joining the
rest of Barringer's Brigade. The attack was merely a diversion and the regiment was ordered to rejoin Wells after it failed. .”
End of Part 1…