lee, who was already concerned about the ability of his weakening army to maintain the defense of petersburg and richmond, realized that the defeat at fort stedman would encourage grant to make a move like the one he was planning. lee already had prepared to send some reinforcements to the western end of his line, and a mobile force beyond the end of the line to protect the junction at five forks, on the morning of march 29 when the union infantry under warren and humphreys and the cavalry under sheridan began their southwestward movements. later that day confederate forces under major general bushrod johnson engaged brevet major general charles griffin's first division of the v corps at the battle of lewis's farm.