It soon set in raining again however, and in a very short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and almost so for cavalry.

Sometimes a horse or mule would be standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other southern States.

It became necessary therefore to build corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our artillery upon.

The army had become so accustomed to this kind of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very rapidly.

The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus menacing the right of Lee's line.
This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, or Five Forks.