Sayler's Creek, VA

[Hillsman House at Sayler's Creek - Courtesy of Wikipedia]

Date(s): April 6, 1865

Campaign(s): Appomattox Campaign [March-April 1865]

Battles in Campaign:

• Lewis's Farm, VA - March 29, 1865 C¹

• White Oak Road, VA - March 31, 1865 B

• Dinwiddie Court House, VA - March 31, 1865 C

• Five Forks, VA - April 1, 1865 A

• Petersburg, VA III - April 2, 1865 A

• Sutherland's Station, VA - April 2, 1865 C¹

• Namozine Church, VA - April 3 1865 D¹

• Amelia Springs, VA - April 5, 1865 C

• Sayler's Creek, VA - April 6, 1865 B

• Rice's Station, VA - April 6, 1865 D¹

• Cumberland Church, VA - April 7, 1865 C¹

• High Bridge, VA - April 6-7, 1865 C

• Appomattox Station, VA - April 8, 1865 B

• Appomattox Court House, VA - April 9, 1865 A

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan

• Confederate:  Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell and Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon

Principal Forces: Corps

• Union: II and VI Corps

• Confederate: Ewell's and Anderson's Corps

Description:

• On April 6th at Sayler’s Creek, nearly one fourth of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Sheridan’s Cavalry and elements of the II and VI Corps.

• Most surrendered, including Confederate generals Richard S. Ewell, Barton, Simms, Kershaw, Custis Lee, Dubose, Hunton, and Corse.

• This action was considered the death knell of the Confederate army.

• Upon seeing the survivors streaming along the road, Lee exclaimed “My God, has the army dissolved?”

Photo Gallery:²

Description of the Battle of Sayler's Creek	Ewell'sLine of Defense
Sailor's Creek	Sailor's Creek	Saylor's Creek Battlefield	Saylor's Creek Battlefield
Lockett House Used as Field Hospital	Lockett House	Hillsman House	Hillsman House Used as Field Hospital
Hillsman House

Slide Presentation³: Appomattox Campaign

Classification⁴: B

Casualties⁵:

• Union: 1,500

• Confederate: 7,000

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Battle of Sailor's Creek - Civil War Times article

• The Siege of Petersburg and Appomattox Retreat - History/Animated.com

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

³ Slide Presentation Published on 6/23/07. Click on link to view as web-based slide show.

⁴ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁵ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 09/03/2008