pickett realized his position was untenable after he learned between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. that bartlett's brigade was on its way to reinforce sheridan, exposing his force to flanking union infantry attack. so pickett withdrew to five forks later that night, ceding any advantage his attack on sheridan might have gained. bartlett's brigade was only the lead unit for all of griffin's and crawford's divisions which were put on the march later that night and would have trapped pickett's force between them and sheridan's troops. this would have given the confederate force no apparent alternatives other than surrender or flight to the west. pickett's retreat at least gave him an opportunity to defend five forks and the southside railroad.