The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-06-28
THE BATTLE OF SAILORS CREEK,

ihE Battle OF SAILORS CREEK.
a Disastrous Day for the Cop,cder,,.
d. Arms.
ny me Rer. John Krshaw, Of Benut;,yf & n
These reco!lections of a youth of eipb.
.eeh arc gwen, not as containing any.
.hing particularly valuable or interesting
eAcept that they touch upon incidents
tnue occurred just at the close of the
great drama OF the war, when from a
more mature mind the overwhelming
catastrophe of Lees surrender naturaliv
crowded out all other topics of minor in.
terest. ''
SAILORS CREEK.
hershaw's Division, together with that
OF GUSTS Lee, were ordered ON the oftor.
noon OF April 6, 1865, to 90 to the sun
port OF Gen. Dick Anderson, who with
MS corps was endeavoring 10 clear the
ROAD IN his front so that he might con.
tinue his retreat. We crossed Sailor's
Ereek and formed line of battle along
tne crest OF the hills, where, after furi.
GUS cahnonade, we were assaulted three
times oy the Federal troops largely out
numbering ours. The first two assaults
were met and parried, but at the third
our men, seeing that the enemy's lines
extended beyond ours on both fanks.
gave away after desperate struggle and
9ed IN confusion. Meanwhile a similar
| rate mad befallen Anderson's corps. and
this brought the force that he had been
nghtlng Immediately in Cur rear, SO that
"bSa our ii12 fell back il was only 10
run into the very arm Of these troops,
Tho were quietly waiting fo, US to come,
knowing that it was impossible for us to
escape with foes in front of us and foes
Dehlnd us, and on both the other sides of
US: Very few escaped capture, there
oeing about 5000 of us altogether made
prisoners.
Next morning we were all put together
IN large field, awaiting the orders to
move towards Petersburg and CITY Point.
While waiting we witnessed the follow
ing spectacle-a terrible and trying expe-
rience to US:
A GRAND DISPLAY.
First came General of cavalry-Mer.
rltt or Custer, | forget which-surround
ed by brilliant staff. After these came
a, splendid brass band mounted, and
playing the stirring ui- "Cheer, bows,
cheer, as we march away to BATTLE" and
they tcere cheering their very best. Then
foilowed Mtrfy.fmo men each one bearing
a Confederate battle.fag tattered and
torn, the trophies of the fight of the
evening before. Then came the mag
nltlcently equipped divisions of Sherf.
aan cavalry sweeping past at trot, the
mems faces all flushed with the light of
victory and pressing on eargerly to the
front, whence in the distance we could
hear the sounds of battle as Lee made
MS last despairing stand, and urged his
grim veterans, nothing 10th, once more
to do and die.
THE MARCH TO PETERSBURG
was marked by nothing worthy of com.
memoration. 1t was q sad and heart
breaking time, and we were yery sore
and sulen. We passed many thousands
OF troops marching towards Appomat-
tox, and their bands would soothe our
feelings oy playing Johnnie come
home" as they went by. At Petersburg
we were greeted as we marched along by
the ladies, who ever faithful and true,
stood on their piazzas and at their win
dows weeping while they waved their
handkerchiefs, and wringing their hands
as they saw lis, the sad reminders of a
falling flag, on our way to prison. A
young and noble looking staff officer got
leave to step out of the line and speak
for moment To his mother and sisters
whom he saw standing in one of the
pinzzas. The steps led down to the gate,
and, as he opened it and ran up the
steps, his old mother saw and recognized
him. She threw up her hands crying
MY son my son!" and fell fainting
into his outstretched arms. Something
down many a soldiers cheek, "washe9
off the stains of powder" as they witness.
ed this little scene, and one of our guards,
bronzed old Zouave, bearded like the
pard, looked at us who stood near him
with tears in his YES, and swore a
mighty oath to take of the tension of his
feelings, so deeply it affected him.
FROM CITY POINT.
We embarked on steamers for Wash.
ington. The beautiful scenery along the
James, the strange quiet of the sparkling
river and its wooded banks, seemed 80
far removed from war and bloodshed.
that we could scarcely realize how all up
and down this historic stream the sounds
of battle had ragged and swelled. Once
in Washington, we were marched to the
office of the provost marshal general, and
served with refreshments which were
very grateful to us. That afternoon at
sunset we took the train Tor New York
and Boston, our destination being Fort
Warren in Boston harbor. The party
consisted of ten Confederate Generals, |
among whom remember Gems. Ewell,
Custis Lee. Kershaw, Corse Of Virginia,
Semmes of fAlabama-not the Admiral
DnRose &C Georgia, Maj Brown, Ewell's
stepson, and myself. While waiting for
the train to move an amusing incident
occurred. A ;a.l, gawky, long.nosed
specimen Of the Downeaster class poked |
his proboscis into the car window and |
eagerly said to Gen. Semmes,g (Which |
is Semmes?" The General very modestly
acknowledged himself to be "Semmes,h
whereupcn the tell man, with look of
started horror, hastily withdrew his elon.
gated nasal organ from the window, and
in tones of almost dramatic ferver, not |
unmixed with fright, calculated, "Wbat
the Pirate p There was general roar
of laughter from our party, while vivid |
blush overspread the Generals express
sive features.
THE NEXT MORNING.,
about sunrise, just as were shaking our
selves together after the: disturbed rest of
the night, the captain who had us in |
charge burst into the car where we were,
his eyes starting from their sockets, his |
face as pale as death, clutching in his |
extended hand telegram. He could
not speak, when some one asked what |
was the matter, but handed the dispatch |
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