By February 1865, the stalemate around Petersburg had entered its eighth month. Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant began to stretch the Union battle lines to the west in an attempt to get Gen. Robert E. Lee's under strength army to do the same. On February 5th, Union Brig. Gen. David Gregg’s cavalry division rode out to the Boydton Plank Road via Reams Station and Dinwiddie Court House in an attempt to intercept Confederate supply trains.  Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren with the Fifth Corps crossed Hatcher’s Run and took up a blocking position on the Vaughan Road to prevent interference with Gregg’s operations.  Two divisions of the Second Corps under Maj. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys shifted west to near Armstrong’s Mill to cover Warren’s right flank.  Late in the day, Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon attempted to turn Humphreys' right flank near the mill but was repulsed.  During the night, the Federals were reinforced by two divisions.  On February 6th, Gregg returned to Gravelly Run on the Vaughan Road from his unsuccessful raid and was attacked by elements of Brig. Gen. John Pegram’s Confederate division.  Warren pushed forward a reconnaissance in the vicinity of Dabney’s Mill and was attacked by Pegram’s and Maj. Gen. William Mahone’s divisions.  Pegram was killed in the action.  Although the Union advance was stopped, the Federals extended their siege works to the Vaughan Road crossing of Hatcher’s Run.