1 00:00:01,245 --> 00:00:02,310 Narrator: The battle of Petersburg 2 00:00:02,312 --> 00:00:04,445 in April 1865 marks a pivotal moment 3 00:00:04,447 --> 00:00:05,980 in American history... 4 00:00:05,982 --> 00:00:08,449 A night full of surprise tactics, 5 00:00:08,451 --> 00:00:12,120 immense courage, and terrible sacrifice. 6 00:00:12,122 --> 00:00:14,789 The breakthrough at Petersburg is the most consequential attack 7 00:00:14,791 --> 00:00:16,724 of the civil war. 8 00:00:16,726 --> 00:00:19,461 Narrator: After almost four years of bloody conflict, 9 00:00:19,463 --> 00:00:22,931 the toll in lives and dollars is immense. 10 00:00:22,933 --> 00:00:24,733 Trudeau: It's costing the federal government 11 00:00:24,735 --> 00:00:28,870 millions of dollars a day to prosecute this war. 12 00:00:28,872 --> 00:00:32,674 Waiting for the war to end is not a solution. 13 00:00:32,676 --> 00:00:35,811 Getting it to end is what has to be done. 14 00:00:35,813 --> 00:00:38,413 Narrator: In Virginia, miles of fortified trenches 15 00:00:38,415 --> 00:00:40,815 are the last line of rebel defense 16 00:00:40,817 --> 00:00:42,550 and the only thing preventing the union 17 00:00:42,552 --> 00:00:46,287 from capturing the confederate capital of Richmond. 18 00:00:46,289 --> 00:00:50,559 To really win the war, they need to take out Richmond, Virginia. 19 00:00:50,561 --> 00:00:52,760 Narrator: Rebel soldiers like captain William Nicholson 20 00:00:52,762 --> 00:00:55,564 are determined not to let that happen. 21 00:00:55,566 --> 00:00:57,098 Relax, men. 22 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,902 I don't think them Yankees are stupid enough to try again. 23 00:01:00,904 --> 00:01:03,037 Narrator: But what Nicholson doesn't know 24 00:01:03,039 --> 00:01:06,908 is that the next union attack will be like no other. 25 00:01:06,910 --> 00:01:09,978 We go tonight, after dark. 26 00:01:09,980 --> 00:01:12,447 Adelman: We are talking about a massive logistical effort... 27 00:01:12,449 --> 00:01:14,116 14,000 soldiers. 28 00:01:14,118 --> 00:01:17,586 It's bigger than pickett's charge at gettysburg. 29 00:01:17,588 --> 00:01:20,255 It will quickly devolve into hand-to-hand, 30 00:01:20,257 --> 00:01:23,058 close-quarters combat... Bayonets and sabers. 31 00:01:23,060 --> 00:01:24,792 Just maybe... maybe... 32 00:01:24,794 --> 00:01:26,461 They could break through the enemy lines, 33 00:01:26,463 --> 00:01:29,798 make Richmond fall, and compel Robert e. Lee to surrender. 34 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,734 Captions by vitac... www.Vitac.Com 35 00:01:32,736 --> 00:01:35,737 captions paid for by discovery communications 36 00:01:50,153 --> 00:01:51,553 Narrator: For almost 10 months, 37 00:01:51,555 --> 00:01:53,555 confederate troops near Petersburg, Virginia, 38 00:01:53,557 --> 00:01:56,357 have been under siege... 39 00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:58,894 Pinned down by a massive union force. 40 00:02:01,632 --> 00:02:03,298 Adelman: By the spring of 1865, 41 00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:05,033 the civil war has already lasted years 42 00:02:05,035 --> 00:02:07,068 longer than many people figured. 43 00:02:07,070 --> 00:02:09,104 It has certainly been a bloodier affair 44 00:02:09,106 --> 00:02:10,105 than everybody figured. 45 00:02:10,107 --> 00:02:12,040 And by march, April 1865, 46 00:02:12,042 --> 00:02:15,276 confederate hopes are just running out. 47 00:02:15,278 --> 00:02:17,946 Narrator: After a long, hard winter, rations are low. 48 00:02:19,983 --> 00:02:23,985 Soldiers are hungry and exhausted. 49 00:02:23,987 --> 00:02:26,888 And on the front lines, some are desperate. 50 00:03:04,694 --> 00:03:08,430 Adelman: All they want to do is eat. 51 00:03:08,432 --> 00:03:11,766 All they want to do is rest. 52 00:03:11,768 --> 00:03:13,968 They have had enough. 53 00:03:13,970 --> 00:03:16,438 If you are tired, hungry, cold, and thirsty, 54 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,507 you are thinking about food, water, warmth, and sleep. 55 00:03:26,116 --> 00:03:28,216 Man: Got a runner! 56 00:03:32,322 --> 00:03:35,123 Get back here! 57 00:03:35,125 --> 00:03:36,725 To be a deserter 58 00:03:36,727 --> 00:03:39,127 or to go over to the federal lines 59 00:03:39,129 --> 00:03:42,330 was considered a blight on your family 60 00:03:42,332 --> 00:03:44,266 and your family's reputation. 61 00:03:53,343 --> 00:03:55,543 Too damn far. 62 00:03:55,545 --> 00:03:57,612 Adelman: Many of these people were pushed to the brink, 63 00:03:57,614 --> 00:03:59,681 and anybody who has left, I don't know 64 00:03:59,683 --> 00:04:02,484 if they're straight-up a coward or a traitor at that point. 65 00:04:02,486 --> 00:04:03,551 Shoot that man. 66 00:04:05,488 --> 00:04:07,555 Still, they've got to resent 67 00:04:07,557 --> 00:04:09,090 their former comrades who have left. 68 00:04:09,092 --> 00:04:10,292 Cadet. 69 00:04:26,576 --> 00:04:28,543 Collect his things. 70 00:04:48,732 --> 00:04:50,732 Hold your fire. 71 00:04:50,734 --> 00:04:52,934 Somebody get me the captain. 72 00:04:52,936 --> 00:04:54,669 Narrator: Robert Pratt serves as a lieutenant 73 00:04:54,671 --> 00:04:58,273 with the union's 5th Vermont infantry. 74 00:04:58,275 --> 00:05:01,009 The 5th Vermont is a unit that had lots of experience 75 00:05:01,011 --> 00:05:03,411 and will ultimately have some heavy responsibility 76 00:05:03,413 --> 00:05:05,413 ahead of them. 77 00:05:05,415 --> 00:05:06,948 Narrator: Lieutenant Pratt takes his orders 78 00:05:06,950 --> 00:05:09,817 from captain Charles gould. 79 00:05:09,819 --> 00:05:12,754 Adelman: Charles gould is only about 20 years old at the time. 80 00:05:12,756 --> 00:05:14,755 He was known as a daredevil in his town 81 00:05:14,757 --> 00:05:16,891 before he even fought in the civil war. 82 00:05:16,893 --> 00:05:19,761 This guy seemed tailor-made to actually help lead 83 00:05:19,763 --> 00:05:23,097 an infantry company in an assault. 84 00:05:23,099 --> 00:05:25,633 Narrator: The two officers are helping lead a union advance 85 00:05:25,635 --> 00:05:28,370 they hope will finally bring an end to the civil war. 86 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:32,040 [ Gunshots ] 87 00:05:32,042 --> 00:05:34,709 Following the union victory at gettysburg, 88 00:05:34,711 --> 00:05:38,646 federal forces launched another invasion of the south. 89 00:05:38,648 --> 00:05:41,315 After months of ferocious campaigning, 90 00:05:41,317 --> 00:05:43,317 large swaths of rebel territory 91 00:05:43,319 --> 00:05:45,320 are now under union control. 92 00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:49,524 Hardy: By late march of 1865, 93 00:05:49,526 --> 00:05:51,659 most of the south has been conquered. 94 00:05:51,661 --> 00:05:55,062 Sherman's army has captured Atlanta and has marched 95 00:05:55,064 --> 00:05:58,065 to Savannah and has come back up through the carolinas. 96 00:05:58,067 --> 00:05:59,667 Narrator: But the union advance 97 00:05:59,669 --> 00:06:03,204 has not ended confederate hopes of a turnaround. 98 00:06:03,206 --> 00:06:06,141 They believed that the federal soldiers 99 00:06:06,143 --> 00:06:07,475 would slip up somehow, 100 00:06:07,477 --> 00:06:09,877 that they could catch a portion of the federal army 101 00:06:09,879 --> 00:06:12,346 and defeat that portion, 102 00:06:12,348 --> 00:06:16,284 and that the north would finally get tired of a war. 103 00:06:18,688 --> 00:06:20,354 Narrator: The union war effort now focuses 104 00:06:20,356 --> 00:06:22,891 on one key objective... 105 00:06:22,893 --> 00:06:24,025 Crushing the rebel army 106 00:06:24,027 --> 00:06:26,027 that defends Richmond, Virginia... 107 00:06:26,029 --> 00:06:29,197 The confederate capital. 108 00:06:29,199 --> 00:06:31,032 In capturing Richmond, you would not only get 109 00:06:31,034 --> 00:06:32,500 the confederate capital, 110 00:06:32,502 --> 00:06:35,369 but you would deprive the south of one of its larger cities 111 00:06:35,371 --> 00:06:39,374 and one of its manufacturing centers. 112 00:06:39,376 --> 00:06:41,376 Narrator: The 5th Vermont is part of a large force 113 00:06:41,378 --> 00:06:43,511 trying to seize Richmond. 114 00:06:43,513 --> 00:06:46,915 But the advance is bogged down 25 miles from the city, 115 00:06:46,917 --> 00:06:49,918 near the town of Petersburg. 116 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,987 Petersburg is kind of like the back door to Richmond. 117 00:06:52,989 --> 00:06:54,856 And if they can capture Petersburg, 118 00:06:54,858 --> 00:06:56,724 then Richmond can't stand. 119 00:06:56,726 --> 00:06:58,993 The problem for the union is Robert e. Lee's lines 120 00:06:58,995 --> 00:07:02,730 are more than 30 miles long around Richmond and Petersburg. 121 00:07:02,732 --> 00:07:04,198 And almost all of those are guarded 122 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,201 by what we would call entrenchments. 123 00:07:07,203 --> 00:07:09,404 Narrator: The union's already spent almost 10 months 124 00:07:09,406 --> 00:07:13,474 trying to break through the Petersburg line. 125 00:07:13,476 --> 00:07:17,011 It can't afford to wait any longer. 126 00:07:17,013 --> 00:07:19,414 Trudeau: It's costing the federal government 127 00:07:19,416 --> 00:07:22,083 millions of dollars a day to prosecute this war. 128 00:07:22,085 --> 00:07:25,420 This is financial deficit spending on a scope 129 00:07:25,422 --> 00:07:28,690 that has never been seen on the planet. 130 00:07:28,692 --> 00:07:30,090 And so waiting for the war 131 00:07:30,092 --> 00:07:33,494 to end is really not a solution at this point. 132 00:07:33,496 --> 00:07:35,897 Getting it to end is what has to be done. 133 00:07:39,969 --> 00:07:41,035 This one's fast. 134 00:07:41,037 --> 00:07:44,372 Hm. Nah, just hungry. 135 00:07:44,374 --> 00:07:46,040 Narrator: As they prepare for another attempt 136 00:07:46,042 --> 00:07:47,308 on the Petersburg line, 137 00:07:47,310 --> 00:07:49,443 the union's come up with a plan to undermine 138 00:07:49,445 --> 00:07:51,913 the rebel defenders. 139 00:07:55,585 --> 00:07:57,051 Hardy: General Grant had issued orders 140 00:07:57,053 --> 00:08:01,389 where he was encouraging confederate soldiers to desert. 141 00:08:01,391 --> 00:08:03,257 He had promised that if you came over, 142 00:08:03,259 --> 00:08:06,728 you would not have to join the ranks and fight. 143 00:08:06,730 --> 00:08:09,731 And if your home was within federal lines, 144 00:08:09,733 --> 00:08:11,865 they would even pay for transportation 145 00:08:11,867 --> 00:08:16,004 so that you could go back to your family. 146 00:08:16,006 --> 00:08:18,072 They keep coming over like this... 147 00:08:18,074 --> 00:08:19,908 There won't be many to fight. 148 00:08:21,344 --> 00:08:24,212 Suits me just fine. 149 00:08:24,214 --> 00:08:25,479 Narrator: Charles gould knows 150 00:08:25,481 --> 00:08:29,283 the order to attack could come at any time. 151 00:08:29,285 --> 00:08:30,685 When it does, 152 00:08:30,687 --> 00:08:32,353 the brash young captain's courage 153 00:08:32,355 --> 00:08:35,690 will be tested like never before. 154 00:08:35,692 --> 00:08:37,158 Trudeau: He's the point of the sword. 155 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:38,626 When a unit is attacking, 156 00:08:38,628 --> 00:08:40,762 it's the captain who will be out in front. 157 00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:44,965 Narrator: Standing in gould's way 158 00:08:44,967 --> 00:08:47,502 is one of the rebel's most experienced soldiers, 159 00:08:47,504 --> 00:08:48,769 captain William Nicholson 160 00:08:48,771 --> 00:08:52,707 of the 37th north Carolina infantry. 161 00:08:52,709 --> 00:08:55,710 Captain William Nicholson had come up through the ranks 162 00:08:55,712 --> 00:08:59,246 and just was really successful. 163 00:08:59,248 --> 00:09:01,315 Narrator: Nicholson has fought hard for the southern cause 164 00:09:01,317 --> 00:09:04,051 since the first year of the conflict. 165 00:09:04,053 --> 00:09:08,890 He's endured battle wounds and personal loss. 166 00:09:08,892 --> 00:09:10,858 Adelman: He's fighting for his native state, 167 00:09:10,860 --> 00:09:12,727 he has made it through a whole bunch of the war, 168 00:09:12,729 --> 00:09:14,595 he's wounded, as most confederates 169 00:09:14,597 --> 00:09:16,264 in Lee's army were. 170 00:09:16,266 --> 00:09:18,800 He loses his brother just a week before, 171 00:09:18,802 --> 00:09:20,401 and here he is in a thin line 172 00:09:20,403 --> 00:09:22,536 of north carolinians holding out to the last, 173 00:09:22,538 --> 00:09:26,407 getting ready for this final attack. 174 00:09:26,409 --> 00:09:29,877 Narrator: Despite the long union siege and a spike in desertions, 175 00:09:29,879 --> 00:09:34,281 most rebel troops remain fiercely devoted to their cause. 176 00:09:34,283 --> 00:09:36,551 Hardy: I think they still had faith in Robert e. Lee 177 00:09:36,553 --> 00:09:38,819 and what he has done with the army of northern Virginia 178 00:09:38,821 --> 00:09:43,091 over the past three years that he has been in command. 179 00:09:43,093 --> 00:09:46,894 Lee repeatedly has whipped the federal soldiers. 180 00:09:46,896 --> 00:09:50,932 As long as Robert e. Lee was fighting, there was still hope. 181 00:09:53,636 --> 00:09:56,704 Narrator: Nicholson believes in the genius of general Lee. 182 00:09:56,706 --> 00:09:59,307 But he also believes in the strength of the defensive line 183 00:09:59,309 --> 00:10:01,975 they've built at Petersburg. 184 00:10:01,977 --> 00:10:04,846 Confederate forces are very confident in the entrenchments 185 00:10:04,848 --> 00:10:06,914 that they have built so far. 186 00:10:06,916 --> 00:10:08,716 When you are thinking about Lee's lines, 187 00:10:08,718 --> 00:10:10,652 imagine open fields in front of them. 188 00:10:10,654 --> 00:10:12,654 Imagine those open fields covered 189 00:10:12,656 --> 00:10:14,254 with what we call abatis... 190 00:10:14,256 --> 00:10:16,924 Pointy branches and trees felled toward the enemy, 191 00:10:16,926 --> 00:10:19,260 sometimes strung together with telegraph wire... 192 00:10:19,262 --> 00:10:21,195 Very difficult obstructions to get by, 193 00:10:21,197 --> 00:10:23,664 especially while you're being shot at. 194 00:10:23,666 --> 00:10:27,401 The purpose of that is to slow the attack down 195 00:10:27,403 --> 00:10:30,471 so that the defenders have time to shoot. 196 00:10:30,473 --> 00:10:32,272 Then there's the final line 197 00:10:32,274 --> 00:10:35,810 where you have men behind raised earthworks, 198 00:10:35,812 --> 00:10:37,745 usually a ditch in front. 199 00:10:37,747 --> 00:10:39,680 So all this is designed 200 00:10:39,682 --> 00:10:42,417 to remove momentum from the assault 201 00:10:42,419 --> 00:10:45,687 and to give the defenders time to exact a price. 202 00:10:55,231 --> 00:10:56,497 Narrator: Abraham Lincoln is entering 203 00:10:56,499 --> 00:10:58,766 his fifth year as president. 204 00:10:58,768 --> 00:11:02,503 In all that time, he's known nothing but war and bloodshed. 205 00:11:04,908 --> 00:11:07,775 Union troops have struck deep into the confederacy, 206 00:11:07,777 --> 00:11:11,379 but the conflict isn't over yet. 207 00:11:11,381 --> 00:11:12,846 He knows that to win, 208 00:11:12,848 --> 00:11:15,049 they must crush the army of Robert e. Lee 209 00:11:15,051 --> 00:11:16,984 currently entrenched at Petersburg. 210 00:11:16,986 --> 00:11:18,919 Then they can move on Richmond. 211 00:11:18,921 --> 00:11:22,723 Lincoln's actions are always push ahead, press the enemy. 212 00:11:22,725 --> 00:11:24,859 Push them out of Petersburg, make Richmond fall, 213 00:11:24,861 --> 00:11:29,129 and then pursue Robert e. Lee until he surrenders. 214 00:11:29,131 --> 00:11:30,732 Narrator: To achieve that victory, 215 00:11:30,734 --> 00:11:32,800 union forces need to find a weak spot 216 00:11:32,802 --> 00:11:34,669 in Lee's defensive line, 217 00:11:34,671 --> 00:11:37,271 something that's eluded them for months. 218 00:11:40,143 --> 00:11:43,477 On April 1, 1865, Lincoln receives news 219 00:11:43,479 --> 00:11:45,480 that could finally turn the tables. 220 00:11:47,683 --> 00:11:49,884 A union attack southwest of Petersburg 221 00:11:49,886 --> 00:11:51,886 near a place called five forks 222 00:11:51,888 --> 00:11:54,489 has forces the rebels to move some of their troops 223 00:11:54,491 --> 00:11:56,424 off the fortified line. 224 00:11:58,761 --> 00:12:02,029 Hardy: Robert e. Lee had pulled confederate soldiers 225 00:12:02,031 --> 00:12:03,965 from the regular entrenchments 226 00:12:03,967 --> 00:12:07,234 to send against the federal advance at five forks, 227 00:12:07,236 --> 00:12:11,505 so the lines had to be weak at some point. 228 00:12:11,507 --> 00:12:14,242 Narrator: It's the opportunity that Lincoln, general Grant, 229 00:12:14,244 --> 00:12:17,511 and the entire union army have been waiting for. 230 00:12:17,513 --> 00:12:18,980 Ulysses s. Grant now knows 231 00:12:18,982 --> 00:12:21,182 the confederates are stretched very thin. 232 00:12:21,184 --> 00:12:23,517 He orders an attack all along the line. 233 00:12:23,519 --> 00:12:25,386 All of his other corps are going to attack 234 00:12:25,388 --> 00:12:26,654 the confederates. 235 00:12:26,656 --> 00:12:28,456 Narrator: Leading that attack 236 00:12:28,458 --> 00:12:30,525 will be the men of the 5th Vermont. 237 00:12:30,527 --> 00:12:33,794 Captain, you wanted to see me, sir? 238 00:12:33,796 --> 00:12:36,330 Heard from the colonel. 239 00:12:36,332 --> 00:12:37,532 We're going in. 240 00:12:41,838 --> 00:12:44,104 Narrator: In the spring of 1865, 241 00:12:44,106 --> 00:12:46,106 union forces near Petersburg, Virginia, 242 00:12:46,108 --> 00:12:48,709 are desperate to seize the confederate capital, 243 00:12:48,711 --> 00:12:51,646 just 25 miles to the north. 244 00:12:51,648 --> 00:12:53,981 The stakes couldn't be higher. 245 00:12:53,983 --> 00:12:55,983 If they can take Richmond, Virginia, 246 00:12:55,985 --> 00:12:58,219 they may finally win the civil war. 247 00:13:00,323 --> 00:13:02,857 But for months, they've been unable to break through 248 00:13:02,859 --> 00:13:06,994 the rebels' 30-mile-long defensive line. 249 00:13:06,996 --> 00:13:11,399 Now they're about to try again. 250 00:13:11,401 --> 00:13:15,870 This time with a bold, unorthodox plan. 251 00:13:15,872 --> 00:13:18,072 Captain Charles gould and lieutenant Robert Pratt 252 00:13:18,074 --> 00:13:20,073 served with the 5th Vermont infantry, 253 00:13:20,075 --> 00:13:22,210 one of the union regiments tasked 254 00:13:22,212 --> 00:13:25,947 with carrying out that plan. 255 00:13:25,949 --> 00:13:27,381 Take a seat. 256 00:13:30,687 --> 00:13:32,954 Adelman: The vermonters, by this time in the civil war, 257 00:13:32,956 --> 00:13:35,422 had already gained a reputation as not only tough fighters, 258 00:13:35,424 --> 00:13:38,025 but ones who were really good at the close-in combat. 259 00:13:38,027 --> 00:13:39,693 And they could really do what was necessary 260 00:13:39,695 --> 00:13:41,295 when they got in among the enemy. 261 00:13:41,297 --> 00:13:43,965 So what's the plan? 262 00:13:43,967 --> 00:13:47,234 We go tonight, after dark. 263 00:13:47,236 --> 00:13:51,705 Once we get there, lie down and wait. 264 00:13:51,707 --> 00:13:56,043 The nature of this plan is moving 14,000-plus men 265 00:13:56,045 --> 00:13:57,645 into an open area under... 266 00:13:57,647 --> 00:13:59,580 Right under the guns of the confederates, 267 00:13:59,582 --> 00:14:01,581 where the enemy can shoot you... 268 00:14:01,583 --> 00:14:04,051 And sit all night. 269 00:14:04,053 --> 00:14:06,454 It's a high-risk move. 270 00:14:06,456 --> 00:14:08,322 Cannon from fort Fisher 271 00:14:08,324 --> 00:14:12,192 is gonna fire a single round, starting the attack. 272 00:14:12,194 --> 00:14:14,528 The first wave will go in here. 273 00:14:14,530 --> 00:14:18,532 The engineers with the axes will cut holes here and here. 274 00:14:18,534 --> 00:14:22,069 Then we move in and we take the trench. 275 00:14:22,071 --> 00:14:23,938 If all goes well, we'll get them 276 00:14:23,940 --> 00:14:25,772 before we even know we're there. 277 00:14:25,774 --> 00:14:28,409 Anything else? 278 00:14:28,411 --> 00:14:33,613 We have been asked to lead the attack. 279 00:14:33,615 --> 00:14:35,416 Adelman: The very nature of this plan 280 00:14:35,418 --> 00:14:38,752 is not going to result in some sort of a traditional fight, 281 00:14:38,754 --> 00:14:40,288 a stand-up fight in a field 282 00:14:40,290 --> 00:14:41,755 with soldiers shooting at each other. 283 00:14:41,757 --> 00:14:44,625 Rather, it will quickly devolve into hand-to-hand, 284 00:14:44,627 --> 00:14:47,862 close-quarters combat... Bayonets and sabers. 285 00:14:49,832 --> 00:14:53,767 Sir, that is a lot of men to move in the dark. 286 00:14:53,769 --> 00:14:55,770 We're gonna have to be very quiet. 287 00:14:59,042 --> 00:15:01,842 If we get trapped on these logs, we're dead men. 288 00:15:04,047 --> 00:15:06,514 I need your help on this. 289 00:15:06,516 --> 00:15:07,715 The word was going around, 290 00:15:07,717 --> 00:15:10,184 "you know what that order means, boys." 291 00:15:10,186 --> 00:15:13,320 It means death. 292 00:15:13,322 --> 00:15:15,289 Narrator: Pratt has good reason to be nervous. 293 00:15:17,593 --> 00:15:20,261 He's seen firsthand how futile and terrifying 294 00:15:20,263 --> 00:15:24,998 a frontal assault on a fortified rebel trench can be. 295 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,135 It is easier to defend an entrenched position 296 00:15:28,137 --> 00:15:31,272 because you are basically protected. 297 00:15:31,274 --> 00:15:33,607 Adelman: Pratt had been at spotsylvania. 298 00:15:33,609 --> 00:15:34,942 He had seen what happens 299 00:15:34,944 --> 00:15:37,945 when you advance across an open field. 300 00:15:37,947 --> 00:15:40,915 Rarely do you even reach the enemy entrenchments. 301 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,428 Narrator: The attack on rebel defenses at spotsylvania 302 00:15:54,430 --> 00:15:56,764 is a colossal failure. 303 00:15:56,766 --> 00:16:00,368 Pratt barely escapes with his life. 304 00:16:00,370 --> 00:16:02,837 Hardy: He knew how many thousands of soldiers 305 00:16:02,839 --> 00:16:06,206 had been lost in a futile effort. 306 00:16:06,208 --> 00:16:07,574 And this bitter experience, 307 00:16:07,576 --> 00:16:09,977 you know, here they are doing it again at Petersburg. 308 00:16:14,984 --> 00:16:18,518 We are talking about a massive logistical effort. 309 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,621 14,000 soldiers? 310 00:16:20,623 --> 00:16:23,124 You have to get them into position hours 311 00:16:23,126 --> 00:16:25,659 and hours before the attack. 312 00:16:25,661 --> 00:16:28,796 Narrator: Every assault requires careful preparation. 313 00:16:28,798 --> 00:16:32,132 But for this bold nighttime attack to succeed, 314 00:16:32,134 --> 00:16:33,867 they'll need something else. 315 00:16:33,869 --> 00:16:36,404 They'll need to move like ghosts. 316 00:16:36,406 --> 00:16:38,939 Make sure you tie down your canteens. 317 00:16:38,941 --> 00:16:40,641 They make noise. 318 00:16:40,643 --> 00:16:42,743 Hardy: They have to be silent. 319 00:16:42,745 --> 00:16:44,945 They tuck their canteens under their belts 320 00:16:44,947 --> 00:16:48,949 and make sure their bayonets were tied down securely. 321 00:16:48,951 --> 00:16:51,819 You want to get at the enemy as quietly as possible. 322 00:16:51,821 --> 00:16:53,353 Every step further you can get 323 00:16:53,355 --> 00:16:56,156 before they know you're there is going to save lives 324 00:16:56,158 --> 00:16:58,325 and increase your chance of success. 325 00:17:02,965 --> 00:17:05,299 No percussion caps. 326 00:17:05,301 --> 00:17:07,835 Can't afford to have any misfires tonight, gentlemen. 327 00:17:07,837 --> 00:17:10,971 A civil war rifle had one sparking device, 328 00:17:10,973 --> 00:17:13,106 which was a cap. 329 00:17:13,108 --> 00:17:15,109 And it sparked and created the explosion 330 00:17:15,111 --> 00:17:16,644 that fired the bullet. 331 00:17:16,646 --> 00:17:19,980 The men were specifically instructed to load their rifles, 332 00:17:19,982 --> 00:17:22,249 but to leave it uncapped. 333 00:17:22,251 --> 00:17:25,319 So if they accidentally activated the trigger, 334 00:17:25,321 --> 00:17:27,187 it would not fire. 335 00:17:27,189 --> 00:17:29,056 The last thing you want is a gun 336 00:17:29,058 --> 00:17:31,058 prematurely discharging during the attack, 337 00:17:31,060 --> 00:17:33,294 thereby alerting the enemy that you're coming. 338 00:17:37,066 --> 00:17:39,867 Narrator: Less than a mile away, 339 00:17:39,869 --> 00:17:42,803 in the rebel fortifications, 340 00:17:42,805 --> 00:17:47,274 an uneasy quiet has come with the darkness. 341 00:17:47,276 --> 00:17:48,476 The army of northern Virginia 342 00:17:48,478 --> 00:17:51,345 has been stretched incredibly thin. 343 00:17:51,347 --> 00:17:54,881 One soldier, one rifle every 10 feet. 344 00:17:54,883 --> 00:17:57,017 And when you have thousands of union soldiers 345 00:17:57,019 --> 00:17:58,819 getting ready to come over that wall, 346 00:17:58,821 --> 00:18:02,022 it is a thin gray line. 347 00:18:02,024 --> 00:18:04,091 Narrator: There are rattled nerves in the union ranks 348 00:18:04,093 --> 00:18:05,559 as well. 349 00:18:05,561 --> 00:18:07,361 But captain gould does what he can 350 00:18:07,363 --> 00:18:12,365 to inspire bravery among the men of the 5th Vermont. 351 00:18:12,367 --> 00:18:15,569 Trudeau: Gould believed that they needed to finish the job. 352 00:18:15,571 --> 00:18:17,104 He understands the cost. 353 00:18:17,106 --> 00:18:18,972 It is painful to him, 354 00:18:18,974 --> 00:18:23,110 but he understands victory is the most important thing. 355 00:18:23,112 --> 00:18:26,313 As you men know by now... 356 00:18:26,315 --> 00:18:31,118 We have been given the honor of leading the attack, 357 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:34,654 which I believe will bring an end to this war. 358 00:18:34,656 --> 00:18:36,656 I have nothing but faith 359 00:18:36,658 --> 00:18:40,994 in the plan brought forth by our commanders. 360 00:18:40,996 --> 00:18:44,665 And I have no doubt... That when the time comes, 361 00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:48,269 each and every one of you will do your duty. 362 00:18:48,271 --> 00:18:51,205 Hardy: I think the biggest obstacle for the federal soldiers 363 00:18:51,207 --> 00:18:54,808 who were getting ready to attack on the morning of April 2nd 364 00:18:54,810 --> 00:18:56,276 is their own mind-set. 365 00:18:56,278 --> 00:18:59,879 They knew the fearful cost that attacking confederate 366 00:18:59,881 --> 00:19:02,349 entrenchments could ensue. 367 00:19:02,351 --> 00:19:04,351 Gould: If there's anything you want to send off 368 00:19:04,353 --> 00:19:06,887 to your families... 369 00:19:06,889 --> 00:19:09,556 Do it now. 370 00:19:09,558 --> 00:19:11,825 Mark it for mail... 371 00:19:11,827 --> 00:19:15,095 And the sergeant will see to it. 372 00:19:15,097 --> 00:19:16,429 Adelman: If they can be quiet enough, 373 00:19:16,431 --> 00:19:18,365 if they can use the cover of darkness, 374 00:19:18,367 --> 00:19:19,433 just maybe... maybe... 375 00:19:19,435 --> 00:19:21,101 They could get through that abatis, 376 00:19:21,103 --> 00:19:23,370 break through the enemy lines, make Richmond fall, 377 00:19:23,372 --> 00:19:26,373 and compel Robert e. Lee to surrender. 378 00:19:26,375 --> 00:19:28,909 It has been an honor 379 00:19:28,911 --> 00:19:32,779 and a privilege to serve alongside you men. 380 00:19:32,781 --> 00:19:34,848 Good luck. 381 00:19:34,850 --> 00:19:37,651 May god be with each and every one of you. 382 00:19:42,758 --> 00:19:44,157 Narrator: The battle of Petersburg 383 00:19:44,159 --> 00:19:47,160 is about to shatter the silence of a cold April night 384 00:19:47,162 --> 00:19:51,965 and forever change the course of American history. 385 00:19:51,967 --> 00:19:54,234 Captain Charles gould and the men of the 5th Vermont 386 00:19:54,236 --> 00:19:57,438 infantry are the tip of the spear, 387 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,173 the lead regiment in the impending union assault 388 00:20:00,175 --> 00:20:04,378 that could finally bring four years of war to an end. 389 00:20:04,380 --> 00:20:05,912 Adelman: It is a wedge of regiments. 390 00:20:05,914 --> 00:20:07,581 You don't want at the tip of the wedge 391 00:20:07,583 --> 00:20:08,915 some inexperienced unit. 392 00:20:08,917 --> 00:20:11,585 Rather, you want a unit that has been baptized by fire, 393 00:20:11,587 --> 00:20:13,119 that has tasted battle before. 394 00:20:13,121 --> 00:20:16,056 And in placing the 5th Vermont at the front of this wedge, 395 00:20:16,058 --> 00:20:18,926 they were recognizing the combat ability of that unit. 396 00:20:24,934 --> 00:20:27,201 Take a knee, men. 397 00:20:27,203 --> 00:20:29,637 It's almost time. 398 00:20:36,211 --> 00:20:38,345 Narrator: As the hour of battle draws near, 399 00:20:38,347 --> 00:20:40,747 the veteran fighters prepare for the worst 400 00:20:40,749 --> 00:20:44,351 by carrying out a grim task. 401 00:20:44,353 --> 00:20:46,619 Adelman: They are pinning their names to their uniforms 402 00:20:46,621 --> 00:20:48,822 because they had seen before that their comrades 403 00:20:48,824 --> 00:20:50,223 could not be identified, 404 00:20:50,225 --> 00:20:53,427 and they didn't want the same sad fate for themselves. 405 00:20:53,429 --> 00:20:55,896 If you were killed on a battlefield, 406 00:20:55,898 --> 00:20:59,366 maybe the comrades next to you would have seen you die 407 00:20:59,368 --> 00:21:03,304 and could give that information to those folks back at home. 408 00:21:03,306 --> 00:21:04,438 But usually not. 409 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:05,505 You died by yourself, you died alone, 410 00:21:05,507 --> 00:21:08,041 you died away from your family. 411 00:21:08,043 --> 00:21:10,711 So they didn't have that assurance 412 00:21:10,713 --> 00:21:13,180 that you were prepared to meet your maker. 413 00:21:16,385 --> 00:21:17,450 Narrator: On the rebel line, 414 00:21:17,452 --> 00:21:20,654 captain Nicholson reassures his men. 415 00:21:20,656 --> 00:21:24,591 He knows a nighttime attack is almost unheard of. 416 00:21:24,593 --> 00:21:27,594 Relax, men. 417 00:21:27,596 --> 00:21:32,132 I don't think them Yankees are stupid enough to try again. 418 00:21:32,134 --> 00:21:34,201 Hardy: 37th north Carolina was a regiment 419 00:21:34,203 --> 00:21:36,670 that had a dangerous reputation. 420 00:21:36,672 --> 00:21:38,739 They have seen a lot of the war. 421 00:21:38,741 --> 00:21:40,540 They have been at antietam, 422 00:21:40,542 --> 00:21:43,544 at fredericksburg, chancellorsville, gettysburg. 423 00:21:43,546 --> 00:21:47,348 They are some of the hardest- fighting troops out there. 424 00:21:49,752 --> 00:21:51,618 Narrator: What's about to unfold near Petersburg 425 00:21:51,620 --> 00:21:56,156 on this cold April night will be their hardest fight yet. 426 00:21:56,158 --> 00:21:57,925 [ Gunshots ] 427 00:21:59,761 --> 00:22:03,430 Take cover! 428 00:22:03,432 --> 00:22:04,697 Narrator: At 10:00 P.M., 429 00:22:04,699 --> 00:22:06,900 in advance of the ground assault to come, 430 00:22:06,902 --> 00:22:10,370 an earth-shaking bombardment begins. 431 00:22:10,372 --> 00:22:14,108 150 union guns pound the rebel line. 432 00:22:28,123 --> 00:22:30,257 Hardy: It lasted about three hours, 433 00:22:30,259 --> 00:22:32,326 and they threw thousands of shells 434 00:22:32,328 --> 00:22:34,228 into the confederate lines. 435 00:22:37,466 --> 00:22:40,534 Both armies periodically shelled each other's lines. 436 00:22:40,536 --> 00:22:42,870 So it's not an odd thing 437 00:22:42,872 --> 00:22:47,341 that you have to endure a three-hour bombardment 438 00:22:47,343 --> 00:22:49,743 in the middle of the night. 439 00:22:52,348 --> 00:22:54,214 Narrator: But what the union forces 440 00:22:54,216 --> 00:22:56,183 are planning next is highly unusual. 441 00:22:58,888 --> 00:23:01,755 The men of the 5th Vermont all know the time 442 00:23:01,757 --> 00:23:06,159 for their daring silent advance has come. 443 00:23:06,161 --> 00:23:08,829 Any night maneuver is still highly problematic. 444 00:23:08,831 --> 00:23:10,430 Armies of the civil war 445 00:23:10,432 --> 00:23:13,767 were not really meant to operate at night. 446 00:23:15,838 --> 00:23:18,038 Narrator: After leaving the safety of their line, 447 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,639 gould and his men must now advance 448 00:23:19,641 --> 00:23:21,174 silently in the darkness 449 00:23:21,176 --> 00:23:23,910 across hundreds of yards of open terrain. 450 00:23:23,912 --> 00:23:27,180 Their orders are to stop short of the rebel line 451 00:23:27,182 --> 00:23:31,317 and then wait for the signal to attack. 452 00:23:31,319 --> 00:23:33,119 Trudeau: Once they're out there, they're on their own. 453 00:23:33,121 --> 00:23:34,387 And they don't know 454 00:23:34,389 --> 00:23:36,123 what the units on either side of them are doing. 455 00:23:36,125 --> 00:23:38,191 They don't know whether they're walking into a wall of Cannon 456 00:23:38,193 --> 00:23:40,193 or an empty hole in the line. 457 00:23:40,195 --> 00:23:43,397 I just imagine how many times these soldiers 458 00:23:43,399 --> 00:23:48,068 had attacked strong fortifications before like this. 459 00:23:48,070 --> 00:23:50,938 It did not work out well most of the time. 460 00:23:53,876 --> 00:23:56,076 Y'all look alive now. 461 00:23:56,078 --> 00:23:58,078 Narrator: Out in front of their main trenches, 462 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,682 the rebels have stationed forward sentries or pickets. 463 00:24:04,620 --> 00:24:06,320 Wake up, boys. 464 00:24:07,957 --> 00:24:09,756 Adelman: Whenever you have a strong line of entrenchments, 465 00:24:09,758 --> 00:24:11,558 you don't just rely on those fortifications 466 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:12,960 to protect your soldiers. 467 00:24:12,962 --> 00:24:15,628 Rather, you are going to send out troops in front of them. 468 00:24:15,630 --> 00:24:17,297 They are called pickets. 469 00:24:19,468 --> 00:24:20,634 Hardy: Their job, 470 00:24:20,636 --> 00:24:22,903 once they have detected federal soldiers coming, 471 00:24:22,905 --> 00:24:24,771 is to fire a few rounds 472 00:24:24,773 --> 00:24:28,441 and then to retreat back toward the main confederate body. 473 00:24:28,443 --> 00:24:32,112 They are the early-warning system. 474 00:24:32,114 --> 00:24:33,580 Narrator: In the darkness, the rebel pickets 475 00:24:33,582 --> 00:24:36,416 haven't spotted the advancing union soldiers. 476 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,822 Captain gould's men are making good progress. 477 00:24:44,927 --> 00:24:46,960 They just need to keep quiet. 478 00:24:50,866 --> 00:24:52,032 [ Gunshot ] 479 00:24:52,034 --> 00:24:54,067 At some point, somebody fires a rifle. 480 00:24:54,069 --> 00:24:56,002 Move! 481 00:24:56,004 --> 00:24:57,938 Down, down! 482 00:24:57,940 --> 00:25:00,874 Narrator: Despite the order to remove all firing caps, 483 00:25:00,876 --> 00:25:05,546 a careless soldier has put the entire union force in jeopardy. 484 00:25:05,548 --> 00:25:09,082 The confederates are pouring shot into darkness, 485 00:25:09,084 --> 00:25:11,217 absolute blackness, because they can't see anything. 486 00:25:11,219 --> 00:25:13,086 They still don't know we're here. 487 00:25:13,088 --> 00:25:15,421 Narrator: Gould knows if they return fire, 488 00:25:15,423 --> 00:25:16,957 all is lost. 489 00:25:16,959 --> 00:25:18,926 Stay down. Stay quiet. 490 00:25:26,635 --> 00:25:29,703 Trudeau: It was important that there be no suspicion 491 00:25:29,705 --> 00:25:31,638 that 200 yards 492 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,842 off their nose there were 14,000 guys 493 00:25:35,844 --> 00:25:38,512 laying there, getting ready to attack. 494 00:25:38,514 --> 00:25:41,915 If the confederate forces know about the federals out there, 495 00:25:41,917 --> 00:25:43,850 they could use their artillery to blanket 496 00:25:43,852 --> 00:25:46,253 that area with shrapnel. 497 00:25:46,255 --> 00:25:49,122 They just had to grit their teeth and bear it, 498 00:25:49,124 --> 00:25:52,125 trying not to give their position away. 499 00:25:54,797 --> 00:25:58,532 Narrator: After several agonizing minutes... 500 00:25:58,534 --> 00:26:00,901 The rebel pickets ease their fire. 501 00:26:03,005 --> 00:26:05,138 What do you think? 502 00:26:05,140 --> 00:26:08,541 It's awfully quiet. 503 00:26:08,543 --> 00:26:11,011 You go get the captain. 504 00:26:17,686 --> 00:26:19,753 Eventually, things quiet down. 505 00:26:19,755 --> 00:26:21,955 There are some artillery bombardment 506 00:26:21,957 --> 00:26:23,556 going on on the other places of the line 507 00:26:23,558 --> 00:26:26,893 throughout the night, but things do quiet down. 508 00:26:29,631 --> 00:26:32,332 There was a shot, but it's quiet now. 509 00:27:00,062 --> 00:27:02,395 Narrator: Union forces are now just 200 yards 510 00:27:02,397 --> 00:27:04,898 from the rebel line. 511 00:27:08,604 --> 00:27:11,003 Should be any minute now. 512 00:27:11,005 --> 00:27:13,140 Trudeau: The assault was delayed 40 minutes. 513 00:27:13,142 --> 00:27:14,674 Affix bayonets. 514 00:27:14,676 --> 00:27:17,810 Imagine standing up, "get ready," 515 00:27:17,812 --> 00:27:21,881 and 40 minutes goes by... 516 00:27:21,883 --> 00:27:24,518 Where you're waiting for something to happen. 517 00:27:31,793 --> 00:27:32,759 [ Gunshot ] 518 00:27:32,761 --> 00:27:35,361 Forward! 519 00:27:35,363 --> 00:27:37,431 Trudeau: Until they fired a signal gun 520 00:27:37,433 --> 00:27:38,698 from one of the forts 521 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:40,767 that started everybody moving forward. 522 00:27:40,769 --> 00:27:42,969 Narrator: The union assault on the Petersburg line 523 00:27:42,971 --> 00:27:45,439 is finally underway. 524 00:27:45,441 --> 00:27:48,842 Trudeau: You have 14,000 men moving across territory 525 00:27:48,844 --> 00:27:50,510 they've never been on before, 526 00:27:50,512 --> 00:27:53,513 facing an enemy that knew the ground. 527 00:27:53,515 --> 00:27:57,451 So even though they had the advantage of numbers, 528 00:27:57,453 --> 00:27:59,586 it was life or death for both sides. 529 00:28:04,393 --> 00:28:05,525 Narrator: A daring nighttime attack 530 00:28:05,527 --> 00:28:06,927 on the Petersburg line marks 531 00:28:06,929 --> 00:28:09,796 a watershed moment in American history. 532 00:28:09,798 --> 00:28:12,932 A massive union charge that will test men's courage, 533 00:28:12,934 --> 00:28:14,934 threaten the confederate capital, 534 00:28:14,936 --> 00:28:19,539 and bring victory for the north within reach has begun. 535 00:28:19,541 --> 00:28:21,140 14,000 soldiers. 536 00:28:21,142 --> 00:28:24,811 It's bigger than pickett's charge at gettysburg. 537 00:28:24,813 --> 00:28:26,813 With that many soldiers in that formation, 538 00:28:26,815 --> 00:28:28,415 they were hoping that they can drive 539 00:28:28,417 --> 00:28:30,817 into the confederate position. 540 00:28:30,819 --> 00:28:33,353 Narrator: As rebel pickets unleash a barrage of musket fire 541 00:28:33,355 --> 00:28:34,821 on the men of Vermont, 542 00:28:34,823 --> 00:28:38,892 gun smoke and fog obscure the Petersburg battlefield. 543 00:28:38,894 --> 00:28:42,028 There's not a lot to see. It's probably what they hear. 544 00:28:42,030 --> 00:28:43,230 [ Gunshots ] 545 00:28:43,232 --> 00:28:44,631 You hear the noise, you hear the racket 546 00:28:44,633 --> 00:28:48,434 caused by the pickets firing their rifles. 547 00:28:48,436 --> 00:28:51,138 You hear the thousands of feet of the federal soldiers. 548 00:28:54,443 --> 00:28:57,510 Fall back! 549 00:28:57,512 --> 00:29:00,781 Narrator: Gould's men overrun the rebels' forward pickets. 550 00:29:06,721 --> 00:29:09,455 Man: Move that Cannon! 551 00:29:09,457 --> 00:29:10,657 Narrator: But they face withering fire 552 00:29:10,659 --> 00:29:13,059 from the main entrenchments beyond. 553 00:29:13,061 --> 00:29:16,329 Ready! 554 00:29:16,331 --> 00:29:17,731 Here they come! 555 00:29:17,733 --> 00:29:19,199 Fire! 556 00:29:22,938 --> 00:29:25,472 The confederate artillery is opened upon them, 557 00:29:25,474 --> 00:29:29,242 which has a devastating effect on the troops. 558 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:32,813 Forward, men! 559 00:29:32,815 --> 00:29:35,348 Stay here and you'll die! Forward! 560 00:29:38,286 --> 00:29:40,220 Narrator: The rebel gunners cut down the attackers 561 00:29:40,222 --> 00:29:44,357 with an infamous type of round called canister. 562 00:29:44,359 --> 00:29:46,493 It would have been a lead container 563 00:29:46,495 --> 00:29:49,229 filled full of small iron balls, 564 00:29:49,231 --> 00:29:50,563 packed in sawdust. 565 00:29:50,565 --> 00:29:54,301 It created a gigantic shotgun-type blast. 566 00:29:56,571 --> 00:30:00,640 Their mortal remains simply disintegrate. 567 00:30:00,642 --> 00:30:03,509 Narrator: Gould faces the danger head on. 568 00:30:03,511 --> 00:30:04,711 Trudeau: As they reach a certain point, 569 00:30:04,713 --> 00:30:06,312 gould hears someone yelling, 570 00:30:06,314 --> 00:30:08,381 "veer to the left, veer to the left." 571 00:30:08,383 --> 00:30:11,051 He thought they meant him, so he turns his men left. 572 00:30:11,053 --> 00:30:12,718 Man: Forward! 573 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,854 That is going to separate Charles gould 574 00:30:14,856 --> 00:30:16,223 from the bulk of the force. 575 00:30:25,534 --> 00:30:27,734 Officers, identify yourselves! 576 00:30:27,736 --> 00:30:29,202 Lieutenant Pratt, sir! 577 00:30:29,204 --> 00:30:30,337 Anyone else? 578 00:30:30,339 --> 00:30:31,871 That's it, sir! 579 00:30:31,873 --> 00:30:33,806 That clearly is gonna be a stressful thing 580 00:30:33,808 --> 00:30:35,008 for some of these men who are looking around, 581 00:30:35,010 --> 00:30:38,477 saying, "where's everybody else?" 582 00:30:38,479 --> 00:30:40,947 Narrator: Making the hellish charge even worse, 583 00:30:40,949 --> 00:30:44,284 the tangle of defensive structures, or abatis. 584 00:30:44,286 --> 00:30:46,752 When the union soldiers reach the abatis, 585 00:30:46,754 --> 00:30:47,820 they have no hope of really 586 00:30:47,822 --> 00:30:49,289 keeping their ranks at this point. 587 00:30:49,291 --> 00:30:51,891 You're going to have men hacking away at the abatis. 588 00:30:51,893 --> 00:30:54,427 Hardy: The federal army had actually sent men 589 00:30:54,429 --> 00:30:56,296 and armed them with axes 590 00:30:56,298 --> 00:30:58,965 and ordered them to go and cut their way, 591 00:30:58,967 --> 00:31:01,835 to chop their way through the abatis. 592 00:31:01,837 --> 00:31:04,371 Not all of them made it. 593 00:31:07,509 --> 00:31:09,442 Adelman: And the union soldiers get bogged down, sure. 594 00:31:09,444 --> 00:31:10,777 Some of them have axes. 595 00:31:10,779 --> 00:31:12,979 Some of them are able to maneuver their way through. 596 00:31:12,981 --> 00:31:16,283 But it is an individual fight with the abatis. 597 00:31:21,256 --> 00:31:24,457 While you're doing that, you are being shot at. 598 00:31:27,195 --> 00:31:29,663 Cannonballs are exploding around you. 599 00:31:33,535 --> 00:31:34,800 It's a horrible scene 600 00:31:34,802 --> 00:31:37,136 to have to try to continue to move forward 601 00:31:37,138 --> 00:31:39,306 under these circumstances. 602 00:31:42,144 --> 00:31:43,876 Narrator: On the confederate line, 603 00:31:43,878 --> 00:31:46,446 captain Nicholson and his men fight on. 604 00:31:48,951 --> 00:31:53,419 There was a persistent confederate resistance. 605 00:31:53,421 --> 00:31:55,021 Adelman: They saw this mighty union host, 606 00:31:55,023 --> 00:31:57,023 they knew how thinly spread they were. 607 00:31:57,025 --> 00:31:59,793 But I don't know if many of them would have considered it fatal. 608 00:32:07,836 --> 00:32:10,236 Narrator: The main rebel entrenchment lies just ahead. 609 00:32:14,509 --> 00:32:18,577 But making it there alive seems almost impossible. 610 00:32:18,579 --> 00:32:21,113 He realizes that you've got one choice, 611 00:32:21,115 --> 00:32:22,248 and that's to rush it. 612 00:32:22,250 --> 00:32:24,217 Forward! 613 00:32:25,654 --> 00:32:27,120 Adelman: Charles gould is somehow able 614 00:32:27,122 --> 00:32:29,522 to find a clear way through the abatis. 615 00:32:34,329 --> 00:32:36,529 No escape! 616 00:32:36,531 --> 00:32:41,534 So he begins to lead a few of his men forward. 617 00:32:41,536 --> 00:32:43,469 Narrator: What happens next is one of the greatest 618 00:32:43,471 --> 00:32:45,872 displays of courage and sacrifice 619 00:32:45,874 --> 00:32:47,574 in the entire civil war. 620 00:32:52,481 --> 00:32:53,813 Adelman: Gould is this daredevil. 621 00:32:53,815 --> 00:32:55,615 He doesn't wait for the other men to come up, 622 00:32:55,617 --> 00:32:58,151 he just hops on top of the works himself and starts 623 00:32:58,153 --> 00:32:59,886 fighting the confederate army. 624 00:32:59,888 --> 00:33:01,087 Trudeau: Gould is thinking, 625 00:33:01,089 --> 00:33:03,957 "get the job done, finish the mission." 626 00:33:09,097 --> 00:33:10,497 [ Screams ] 627 00:33:18,907 --> 00:33:20,140 [ Shouts ] 628 00:33:21,976 --> 00:33:23,977 [ Groans ] 629 00:33:23,979 --> 00:33:26,645 A bayonet gets him in the face. 630 00:33:26,647 --> 00:33:28,314 Adelman: Gould is still fighting at this point. 631 00:33:28,316 --> 00:33:30,316 He is able to kill that particular soldier 632 00:33:30,318 --> 00:33:32,919 with his sword. 633 00:33:32,921 --> 00:33:34,320 That guy goes down. 634 00:33:34,322 --> 00:33:36,322 Yet a third confederate shows up 635 00:33:36,324 --> 00:33:37,990 with a bayonet into the back 636 00:33:37,992 --> 00:33:39,592 that just misses the spine. 637 00:33:39,594 --> 00:33:40,860 [ Screams ] 638 00:33:49,071 --> 00:33:53,539 This man has taken some incredible hits. 639 00:33:53,541 --> 00:33:55,275 Adelman: This is not the time for you to hold some 640 00:33:55,277 --> 00:33:56,676 sort of a board meeting to decide 641 00:33:56,678 --> 00:33:57,944 what is to be done next. 642 00:33:57,946 --> 00:33:59,479 I mean, you've got gould out of the battle, 643 00:33:59,481 --> 00:34:00,880 lieutenant Pratt is now in charge 644 00:34:00,882 --> 00:34:04,750 of that company of the 5th Vermont. 645 00:34:04,752 --> 00:34:06,486 Trudeau: I'm sure word went back. 646 00:34:06,488 --> 00:34:08,421 "Captain's been killed. You're in command." 647 00:34:08,423 --> 00:34:09,989 Move forward! 648 00:34:13,161 --> 00:34:15,228 Charge! 649 00:34:15,230 --> 00:34:16,563 Narrator: Lieutenant Pratt 650 00:34:16,565 --> 00:34:18,631 follows the lead of his fallen captain 651 00:34:18,633 --> 00:34:20,700 and pushes his men forward. 652 00:34:30,578 --> 00:34:33,046 Adelman: Here, you have union troops swarming over the works. 653 00:34:33,048 --> 00:34:34,980 The southerners fighting with whatever they had... 654 00:34:34,982 --> 00:34:37,183 Hand spikes, hand weapons, pistols, 655 00:34:37,185 --> 00:34:40,720 and muskets... All in this fierce melee. 656 00:34:40,722 --> 00:34:44,257 It must have just been a really intense moment. 657 00:34:44,259 --> 00:34:45,925 Narrator: At close range, the rebel cannons 658 00:34:45,927 --> 00:34:47,326 are devastating. 659 00:34:47,328 --> 00:34:52,599 Pratt knows their only hope is to silence the deadly guns. 660 00:34:52,601 --> 00:34:57,870 Adelman: He sees those cannons swiveling into position... 661 00:34:57,872 --> 00:35:00,673 Getting ready to fire. 662 00:35:00,675 --> 00:35:02,876 And it could undo everything. 663 00:35:02,878 --> 00:35:06,546 Clearly, the confederates are about to blow them away. 664 00:35:06,548 --> 00:35:08,214 Narrator: Pratt has just seconds to somehow 665 00:35:08,216 --> 00:35:11,217 save his men from total annihilation. 666 00:35:12,220 --> 00:35:13,887 Fire! 667 00:35:16,558 --> 00:35:19,425 Narrator: On a cold April night in 1865, 668 00:35:19,427 --> 00:35:23,029 union troops face vicious close-quarter combat 669 00:35:23,031 --> 00:35:26,499 in a pivotal battle that will shape the nation's future. 670 00:35:26,501 --> 00:35:28,768 At this point, the federals were not to be denied, 671 00:35:28,770 --> 00:35:31,204 and they just kept coming. 672 00:35:33,975 --> 00:35:36,109 Narrator: Union lieutenant Pratt and his men 673 00:35:36,111 --> 00:35:38,310 are in a precarious position. 674 00:35:38,312 --> 00:35:40,246 Though they've stormed the rebel trenches, 675 00:35:40,248 --> 00:35:43,882 they're still vulnerable to Cannon fire. 676 00:35:43,884 --> 00:35:45,851 Adelman: Pratt would have been able to see the confederates 677 00:35:45,853 --> 00:35:47,887 loading the cannons nearby. 678 00:35:52,260 --> 00:35:54,527 So Pratt is gonna lead a small contingent of soldiers 679 00:35:54,529 --> 00:35:56,296 over toward these cannons. 680 00:36:00,468 --> 00:36:03,002 Narrator: Lieutenant Pratt knows it's do or die. 681 00:36:03,004 --> 00:36:06,405 It's up to him to silence the cannons. 682 00:36:06,407 --> 00:36:07,740 Adelman: As fate would have it, 683 00:36:07,742 --> 00:36:09,475 Pratt and some of his men arrive 684 00:36:09,477 --> 00:36:12,612 just as there's a confederate with his hand on the lanyard. 685 00:36:12,614 --> 00:36:14,614 That means the gun is fully loaded and ready 686 00:36:14,616 --> 00:36:18,818 to fire into the mouths of the union soldiers. 687 00:36:18,820 --> 00:36:22,221 Just as he's about to pull it, Pratt is able to cut him down. 688 00:36:22,223 --> 00:36:23,822 Who know how many union soldiers 689 00:36:23,824 --> 00:36:26,226 were saved by just cutting down that one gunner? 690 00:36:34,636 --> 00:36:35,968 Narrator: The tide of battle is quickly 691 00:36:35,970 --> 00:36:38,771 turning as Pratt's men target rebels 692 00:36:38,773 --> 00:36:41,207 with the captured Cannon. 693 00:36:46,514 --> 00:36:48,248 Adelman: Even while their lines are being broken, 694 00:36:48,250 --> 00:36:50,583 there are still southerners in there that are gonna stick 695 00:36:50,585 --> 00:36:52,252 to the last, ready to lay down their lives, 696 00:36:52,254 --> 00:36:54,454 just to hold one more position. 697 00:36:56,791 --> 00:36:59,626 Narrator: Few fight harder than rebel captain William Nicholson. 698 00:37:06,133 --> 00:37:09,235 But in the end, his brave efforts aren't enough. 699 00:37:12,140 --> 00:37:13,806 A wave of union soldiers 700 00:37:13,808 --> 00:37:16,742 overrun the trenches at Petersburg, 701 00:37:16,744 --> 00:37:19,879 killing or capturing more than 4,000 rebels. 702 00:37:27,889 --> 00:37:33,025 Within hours, the union victory is secure. 703 00:37:33,027 --> 00:37:35,094 Robert Pratt and the men of the 5th Vermont 704 00:37:35,096 --> 00:37:37,797 have done what many thought was impossible. 705 00:37:42,436 --> 00:37:45,104 They've helped to break one of the toughest rebel positions 706 00:37:45,106 --> 00:37:48,041 in the war. 707 00:37:48,043 --> 00:37:50,109 Everything they had been fighting for 708 00:37:50,111 --> 00:37:52,445 is now within reach. 709 00:37:52,447 --> 00:37:54,714 Adelman: I think people like Pratt now can see a little bit 710 00:37:54,716 --> 00:37:56,849 more clearly the end of the war. 711 00:37:56,851 --> 00:37:58,518 They can maybe see getting, 712 00:37:58,520 --> 00:37:59,918 capturing Petersburg and Richmond. 713 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:01,187 They don't know what's on the horizon, 714 00:38:01,189 --> 00:38:03,823 but they know that this is a consequential moment. 715 00:38:07,462 --> 00:38:08,861 Narrator: Sharing in the moment 716 00:38:08,863 --> 00:38:11,230 is a man seemingly back from the dead... 717 00:38:13,934 --> 00:38:17,837 5th Vermont infantry captain Charles gould. 718 00:38:22,344 --> 00:38:24,276 And, incredibly, gould will survive 719 00:38:24,278 --> 00:38:26,446 the breakthrough at Petersburg. 720 00:38:28,816 --> 00:38:31,417 Narrator: As fighting continues throughout the day, 721 00:38:31,419 --> 00:38:34,921 the rebels are forced to abandon the city of Petersburg. 722 00:38:37,759 --> 00:38:40,159 Hardy: When the federal forces are able to break through 723 00:38:40,161 --> 00:38:44,564 those lines below Petersburg on April 2nd of 1865, 724 00:38:44,566 --> 00:38:46,365 it really is the last nail 725 00:38:46,367 --> 00:38:48,701 in the coffin for the confederacy. 726 00:38:52,374 --> 00:38:54,574 Narrator: News of the crippling defeat soon makes its way 727 00:38:54,576 --> 00:38:59,378 to confederate general Robert e. Lee. 728 00:38:59,380 --> 00:39:02,448 He has no choice but to withdraw all his forces 729 00:39:02,450 --> 00:39:08,054 and warn his political masters that the end is near. 730 00:39:08,056 --> 00:39:10,256 The federals have breached the line. 731 00:39:10,258 --> 00:39:12,992 The breach is apparent to Robert e. Lee. 732 00:39:12,994 --> 00:39:15,060 He sends a message to Richmond saying, 733 00:39:15,062 --> 00:39:18,731 "I'm advising you you've got to get out of town." 734 00:39:18,733 --> 00:39:21,801 This triggers the exodus 735 00:39:21,803 --> 00:39:25,137 of the confederate government from Richmond. 736 00:39:25,139 --> 00:39:26,672 The mass of the confederate government 737 00:39:26,674 --> 00:39:31,210 is gone from Richmond by about midnight April 2nd. 738 00:39:31,212 --> 00:39:37,016 Once Richmond falls, we know that the war is over. 739 00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:51,964 Adelman: Although I think that by early April 1865, 740 00:39:51,966 --> 00:39:53,966 Abraham Lincoln must have seen the capture 741 00:39:53,968 --> 00:39:56,702 of Richmond, Virginia, as inevitable. 742 00:39:56,704 --> 00:39:58,971 You can't help but think how happy he must have been 743 00:39:58,973 --> 00:40:04,110 when finally this long-sought prize falls to the union. 744 00:40:04,112 --> 00:40:06,579 The breakthrough at Petersburg is the most consequential attack 745 00:40:06,581 --> 00:40:08,781 of the civil war. 746 00:40:12,387 --> 00:40:15,187 Narrator: On April 9, 1865, 747 00:40:15,189 --> 00:40:17,590 a week after the breakthrough at Petersburg, 748 00:40:17,592 --> 00:40:23,795 Robert e. Lee and the army of northern Virginia surrender. 749 00:40:23,797 --> 00:40:26,933 And, effectively, when his army surrenders, 750 00:40:26,935 --> 00:40:28,667 it marks the end of the confederacy. 751 00:40:28,669 --> 00:40:30,869 It had taken four years, 752 00:40:30,871 --> 00:40:34,139 four long years for the United States 753 00:40:34,141 --> 00:40:36,876 government to conquer the southern states. 754 00:40:36,878 --> 00:40:39,412 In the end, the south did not form its own confederacy. 755 00:40:39,414 --> 00:40:40,679 Slavery was abolished. 756 00:40:40,681 --> 00:40:43,349 It's hard to point to a lot of ultimate success 757 00:40:43,351 --> 00:40:44,883 for the south in the civil war. 758 00:40:44,885 --> 00:40:47,353 But after the war, a lot of southerners did write about 759 00:40:47,355 --> 00:40:49,221 how against the longest odds, 760 00:40:49,223 --> 00:40:50,890 the confederates had stuck to their post 761 00:40:50,892 --> 00:40:53,225 and done their duty against an enemy 762 00:40:53,227 --> 00:40:54,894 that was almost impossible to beat, 763 00:40:54,896 --> 00:40:58,030 you know, to begin with. 764 00:40:58,032 --> 00:40:59,365 Narrator: The war claimed the lives 765 00:40:59,367 --> 00:41:02,435 of over 600,000 soldiers, 766 00:41:02,437 --> 00:41:05,037 more than the number of Americans killed 767 00:41:05,039 --> 00:41:06,772 in world war I, world war ii, 768 00:41:06,774 --> 00:41:11,977 the korean war, and Vietnam combined. 769 00:41:11,979 --> 00:41:14,046 Lincoln gave a speech towards the end of the war. 770 00:41:14,048 --> 00:41:17,316 He said the heavens are hung in black. 771 00:41:17,318 --> 00:41:19,118 He realized that the war 772 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:20,920 had reached into every household, 773 00:41:20,922 --> 00:41:23,389 had touched every community. 774 00:41:23,391 --> 00:41:25,324 Narrator: Following the confederate surrender, 775 00:41:25,326 --> 00:41:27,726 Abraham Lincoln immediately sets to work 776 00:41:27,728 --> 00:41:31,063 rebuilding a nation for all Americans. 777 00:41:31,065 --> 00:41:33,265 Lincoln wanted to solidify the union 778 00:41:33,267 --> 00:41:36,535 and make it whole again. 779 00:41:36,537 --> 00:41:38,136 Trudeau: Lincoln said now is the time 780 00:41:38,138 --> 00:41:39,939 to put animosity aside 781 00:41:39,941 --> 00:41:43,609 and to come together as a country. 782 00:41:43,611 --> 00:41:46,679 Narrator: But less than two weeks after securing peace, 783 00:41:46,681 --> 00:41:49,148 Lincoln would be dead... 784 00:41:49,150 --> 00:41:53,152 Cut down by an assassin's bullet. 785 00:41:53,154 --> 00:41:56,088 Trudeau: It really amplifies the tragedy of his assassination 786 00:41:56,090 --> 00:41:58,024 the night at Ford's theatre 787 00:41:58,026 --> 00:42:03,429 because he was truly working towards a reunion 788 00:42:03,431 --> 00:42:04,696 of the country in a way 789 00:42:04,698 --> 00:42:06,899 that would not destroy the country. 790 00:42:11,906 --> 00:42:14,373 Narrator: After the war, Charles gould wins 791 00:42:14,375 --> 00:42:15,907 the medal of honor for the courage 792 00:42:15,909 --> 00:42:18,878 he displayed during the attack on the rebel line. 793 00:42:21,915 --> 00:42:24,182 Robert Pratt moved to Minneapolis, 794 00:42:24,184 --> 00:42:26,752 where he would serve as mayor of the city. 795 00:42:40,201 --> 00:42:42,268 Captain William Nicholson 796 00:42:42,270 --> 00:42:45,070 of the 37th north Carolina infantry 797 00:42:45,072 --> 00:42:48,274 is one of over 6,000 men killed or wounded 798 00:42:48,276 --> 00:42:50,276 in the breakthrough at Petersburg. 799 00:42:56,684 --> 00:43:03,089 The American civil war... It remakes the United States. 800 00:43:03,091 --> 00:43:08,094 It changes who we are as a nation. 801 00:43:08,096 --> 00:43:10,229 Adelman: The civil war helps to correct 802 00:43:10,231 --> 00:43:12,365 what people might call imperfections 803 00:43:12,367 --> 00:43:14,633 with the founding of this country, 804 00:43:14,635 --> 00:43:18,837 you know, that maybe all men are in fact created equal 805 00:43:18,839 --> 00:43:21,741 and proves, you know, that this experiment in democracy 806 00:43:21,743 --> 00:43:24,176 can not only succeed, but it can make us stronger. 807 00:43:24,178 --> 00:43:26,979 Tests upon that democracy can make us stronger. 808 00:43:26,981 --> 00:43:30,316 The civil war has to be one of the, if not the, 809 00:43:30,318 --> 00:43:32,351 ultimate tests of our democracy.