Hi Everyone - Please join us for the next in our regular monthly series of free Department of the Library Park Ranger Speaker Series lectures, entitled "Petersburg Through Five Forks" on Tuesday, March 17th from 1:00 - 1:45 pm in Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building's John Muir Room. Hopes ran high in May 1864 and, contrary to popular history, each side found what it was looking for in the Virginia Wilderness west of Fredericksburg. The Civil War campaign that followed did shock both sides as Robert E. Lee countered each of Ulysses S. Grant's bold moves to the left. Grant's frustration mounted, as did his casualties. Lee's vigilance and celerity of movement prevented Grant from taking Richmond. The resulting Siege of Petersburg dominated the final ten months of the war and tested the patience of both governments as well as the endurance of men in the field and women at home. The final rain-soaked week of March 1865 witnessed war's cruelty and ferocity when Grant launched a massive Federal offensive culminating in the Battle of Five Forks. Following Five Forks, the Confederate defensive lines collapsed at both Petersburg and Richmond and Lee's army began its fighting retreat against Grant's determined pursuit toward Appomattox Court House. Please join Park Ranger Michael Kelly as he examines two pivotal turning points of the Civil War, the Siege of Petersburg and the subsequent Union campaign leading to the Battle of Five Forks. See how the events that took place 150 years ago this month led to the eventual end of this great conflict. All that are interested are invited. The John Muir Room is located in the basement level of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building, towards the back of and adjacent to the Interior Department cafeteria. The Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building is located at 1849 C Street, NW in Washington. Space for the program is limited so please go to the following link to register: https://docs.google.com/a/nbc.gov/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGgtcWo5SGpfN3VNNVFobVNSTThyaXc6MQ#gid=0 Please also note that we will be offering WebEx webinar access for this program. If you are interested in remote live access to this program, please note it on the online registration form or send an e-mail to [log in to unmask] You may contact the Library by phone at (202) 208-5815 or by e-mail at [log in to unmask] for more information about this program and/or directions. For more information about DOI Library resources and services, please visit the DOI Library's website, located at http://www.doi.gov/library. We hope you can join us in person or virtually on March 17th! George Franchois Director - U.S. Dept. of the Interior Library Office of the Secretary - Office of Facilities and Administrative Services (OFAS) 1849 C Street, NW, Room 2262, MS 1151 Washington, DC 20240 E-Mail: [log in to unmask] Phone: (202) 208-3796 Fax: (202) 208-6773 Library URL: http://www.doi.gov/library OFAS URL: http://www.doi.gov/ofas