This battle, on April 1, 1865, has been called the Waterloo of the Confederacy. Union troops under Philip Sheridan's command defeated the Confederates under General George Pickett, who had been sent to protect the Southside Railroad, Robert E. Lee's last supply line. The Union victory broke the siege of Petersburg, and led to the fall of Richmond. Lee consequently retreated westward from the Richmond-Petersburg defenses, and eight days later surrendered at Appomattox.

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