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

[473] brought up and distributed, the wagons were parked, the wounded cared for and moved to the rear, the positions of troops assigned; all with a view to advance in the morning.

Grant's Headquarters were now at Dabney's mill, and Meade's were close at hand, at the crossing of the Vaughan road and Hatcher's run, both points about ten miles from Sheridan. Warren was still across the Boydton road, his Headquarters four and a half miles from Meade and five and a half from Dinwiddie. There was communication by military telegraph between Grant and Meade, and between Meade and his corps commanders, but all news from Sheridan came by courier.

During the afternoon, Grant began to be uneasy, and said to Meade: ‘I think Warren should be instructed to send well down the White Oak road, and also south-west from his left, to watch and see if there is an enemy in either direction. I would much rather have Warren back on the plank road than to be attacked front and rear where he is.’ To this Meade replied, at half-past 5: ‘Sheridan's firing was heard soon after you left. I have sent word to Warren to push forward a force down the White Oak road to co-operate with Sheridan.’

Soon after dark, the news from the battle began to come in. At 6.35 P. M., Meade reported: ‘A staff officer from General Sheridan was cut off by what is reported two brigades of Pickett's division. . . .The firing has receded towards Dinwiddie courthouse. . . . I have directed Warren to send a force down the Boydton plank to try and communicate with Sheridan.’ Both these orders to Warren were obeyed. He sent Bartlett's brigade to the left, on