Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 3

The rebel line at this time extended along the White Oak road to a point about two miles west of Burgess's mill, where it turned abruptly to the north. Four miles west of this point the White Oak road is crossed by that from Dinwiddie as it runs to the Southside railway. Still another road from the south comes in at the junction, and thus the ‘Five Forks’ is formed. It is only two miles from the Southside road, and was, therefore, of vital consequence in all the movements of either army. If Five Forks was gained by Grant, Lee could not remain in Petersburg.

Sheridan pushed out a division from Dinwiddie, but found the enemy in force at the junction, and the condition of the roads still prevented any serious attack by the cavalry. Warren, at the same time, was advanced until his left extended across the Boydton, and in the direction of the White Oak, road. He, too, found the enemy strong in his front, extending westward, but was directed to hold and fortify his new position. Humphreys, meanwhile, drove the rebels behind their main line on Hatcher's run, near Burgess's mill, and Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their fronts to determine the feasibility of assault; for, as the enemy now confronted the national army at every point from Richmond to the Boydton road, Grant concluded that the rebel lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated, if his estimate of Lee's forces was correct. Wright and Parke reported favorably to an assault, and Grant determined, therefore, to extend his line no further, but to reinforce Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and enable him to turn the rebel flank, while the other corps assaulted the enemy's works in front.