Midterm Project Advanced World History Andrew Griles October 8
th, 2010
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Saylers Creek Battlefield is located in Amelia, Prince Edward
and Nottoway counties in rural Southside Virginia. It was renamed
Sailors Creek Battlefield by the Historical Society in 1985. It was
thought to be named originally by the landowner on which the battle
was fought. It is the sight of one of the most pivotal battles
fought in the civil war on April 6 th, 1865.
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The Battle of Saylers Creek was important to the heritage of
our country for four main reasons: 1.It was the last major battle
before the surrender of Lees army, 2. It is considered the largest
surrender in the field of an army without terms that followed, 3.
Many of the greatest and most illustrious leaders of both armies
clashed together for the last time on this field of conflict, and
4.In the engagement at the Hillsmans Farm, the Confederate army
involved both seamen, Marines, and armed government employees and
heavy artillerymen. It was Lees sons (George Washington Custis Lee)
only battle during the war.
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Events leading to the Battle of Saylers Creek: April 3-5, 1865:
Gen. Lee withdraws his Army from Petersburg and Richmond, divides
them into three columns and heads towards Amelia Court House, where
his plans were to re- supply his army and travel to North Carolina
to join forces with Confederate Gen. Johnstons Army of Tennessee.
Because of the rain-soaked and swollen streams, travel was
difficult, and the majority of the wagon trains were caught and
destroyed by the Union Army.
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Lees troops arrived in Amelia Courthouse, but the supplies
never appeared and a day was wasted while the Confederate soldiers
gathered food throughout the countryside. This delay advantaged the
Union cavalry while they positioned themselves seven miles below
Amelia and blocked Lees route south. Finding his route blocked, Lee
ordered his columns to detour the Union Army along the South Side
Railroad to Farmville where supply trains from Lynchburg
awaited.
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The order of the Confederate line of march on this detour to
Farmville was: Gen James Longstreets 1 st and 3 rd Corps along with
its wagon train in the lead; Gen. Richard H Andersons Corps; Gen.
R. S. Ewells Reserve Corps, made up of the Richmond Garrison; and
in the rear, the main Confederate wagon train. Gen. John B. Gordons
2 nd Corps was behind the wagons and acted as the armys
rearguard.
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Longstreets Corps (with which Lee rode) passed through the
bottomlands without much difficulty, however for Andersons Corps
and Ewells Reserve Corps, there was trouble. The Union cavalry
employed hit and run tactics against them which slowed the line of
march down and caused a widened gap between Longstreet and
Anderson. Anderson realized this and halted his line to confer with
Gen. Ewell, the senior officer on the field.
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It seems Ewell couldnt make up his mind about what to do, so
Anderson instructed his men to prepare a defensive line and make
ready to receive an attack. Gordons men had been slowed down by the
wagon trains following Ewell. Fearing for their safety, Ewell sent
the wagon trains on an alternate route and Gordons Second Corps
followed them, leaving Ewells men as the rearguard of the
retreating column.
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Several columns of the Confederate Army found the marching pace
difficult to keep up with and soon became separated from the
columns of Lee and Longstreet. The union cavalry struck the wagons
and in a desperate attempt to save supplies Ewell detoured the
wagon train down Jamestown Road. It was here that the Union troops
began their assault but the Confederate infantry mounted a
countercharge that forced the Union line back across the creek.
Eventually, the Unions fired cannons, enveloping Ewells troops and
forced them to surrender
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Gordons troops became bogged down at the double bridges
crossing over the intersection of Big and Little Sailors Creeks.
Union troop0s under Gen. Humphreys attacked Gordons forces in a
sharp bloody encounter and by nightfall, the battle had ended. 300
wagons and 1700 men were captured. The Confederates fled towards
Rices Station across Big Sailors Creek.
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It has been said that Gordons abandonment of the main body of
the army is what caused the ensuing disaster at Saylers Creek for
the Confederates. It has been suggested that Ewell was at fault for
not informing Gordon of his intentions, and that the rearguard
followed the wagon trains because they had not received
instructions to join the commands under Anderson and Ewell.
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The Hillsman House was a field hospital for Union officers who
were wounded during battle. Regular servicemen had to be treated
outside and were not allowed to stay inside. The house was occupied
by the Hillsman family, but they were forced to live in the
basement during the time the Union occupied it in April 1865.
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The Lockett House was another field hospital. The grounds in
front was where the battle between Humphreys Union army and Gordons
Confederate Second Corps took place. For those that escaped capture
at Saylers Creek, they existed long enough to fight again once more
on August 9 th in Appomattox Court House before the confederates
surrendered.
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Lee lost more that 7700 men and eight generals. This is the
largest number of men to ever surrender in a single action on this
continent. After such a reduction in troops and supplies, Lees
situation was hopeless and seventy-two hours later he surrendered
in Appomattox.
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This is a painting of the Battle at Little Saylers Creek. The
Union troops are in the foreground. They are utilizing cannons and
are firing towards the Confederate troops in the background who
were without any artillery.
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References: Thirty-six Hours before Appomattox; by Chris
Calkins, 1980. Lees Retreat, The Final Campaigns Brochure, Virginia
Civil War Trails Sailors Creek Battlefield 72 hours before the end
Brochure by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
