Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

Humphreys meanwhile had pursued the force in his front to the mouth of the creek, a distance of fourteen miles, over every foot of which he kept up a running fight, wading streams and building bridges as he advanced. The country was broken, open fields alternating with forests, and dense undergrowth with swamp; at several points the enemy was partially entrenched; but the lines of battle followed the skirmishers so closely and rapidly as to astonish veteran soldiers. The last rebel stand in front of Humphreys was made at the creek, where a short but sharp contest gave him thirteen flags, three pieces of artillery, and several hundred prisoners. The whole result of the day to the Second corps was four guns, seventeen hundred prisoners, thirteen flags, and three hundred wagons.

The Fifth corps met this day no opposing force, save a small detachment of cavalry. It marched thirty-two miles, and captured three hundred stragglers, halting for the night at Ligonton.

An army was hardly ever so nearly surrounded in the open field as that of Lee on the night of the 6th of April. Ord held the flying rebels in front, Sheridan and Wright had struck them in flank and dismembered the column, while Humphreys and Griffin were on the right and rear. Their enemies encompassed them on every side. The only possible escape was by the roads nearest to the Appomattox, in the direction of Farmville, and to this point Grant had already directed his columns.