The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-04
4 Forgotten Battle.
The Last Great c,niict Of the Civil
War Described By Ez-spaaksr
Keifsr.
THE STRIFE AT SAILORS CREEK, VA.

keifsr.
THE STRIFE AT SAILORS CREEK, VA.
Not ) per centum of the intelli-
gent people of the United States,
n nth and South. who were of mat
ure wears at the close of the war
lS65). and far less number OF
those who now seek 10 he informed
of the events of the War of the Re
bellion. ever heard of the battle OF.
Sailors Creek at all, or, having heard
of it by mere name. still know any
thing Of ats magnitude or importance.
Most of the well informed officers
and soldiers of that war, in both
armies, know little or nothing OF Il.
This is not strrnge, as the battle was
fought in Virginia, April ., 1860,
three days only before the surrender
of the Army Of Northern Virginia
under Gen. Robert L. Lee. Events
were then occurring so rapidly,
clashing one with the other, that lit
tie or no note was made of this bat
tie which came to public attention.
The battle of Five Forks was
fought April /, 1865; a successful
assault was made April 2, on the
strongly fortified Confederate posi-
ton at Petersburg, Va. Richmond,
the Confederate capital, was evacua-
ted April 3. and other less impor-
tant events were then occurring In
Virginia almost daily and hourly.
General Sherman had but recently
made his triumphal march from At
lsnta TO the sea, and pierced with
his army through the Carolinas,
fighting and winning battles great
and small, on his way. Fort
Blakelr was captured April 8, and
other important movements were
taking place in the Southwest. Mo-
bile was surrendered April y, 1865.
President Lincoln was assasssinated
April IA The surrender of General
Joseph f Johnston's army (April
26, 1861 was followed by that of
General Dick Taylor May 4. 1869
and of General Kirby Smith in Tex
as soon after (May &c, 1869. The
capture of jeff Davis and members
of bis Cabinet in Georgia. May IL,
and the total collapse of the would
be Confederacy, turned the heads of
the people to results and the joys OF
an assured and early peace, rather
than 10 contemporaneous history.
A REMARKABLE BATTLE.
1t NAV not be strange that, under
such circumstances, one of the great
est battles of the bloodiest of mod
ern wars should be overlooked by
the writers Of history. Those who
were 10 that memorable battle, and
the few who have studied its histo-
nv, as given in official reports. know
that in some respects it has no par
allei IN the war on this continent.
The results immediately following
from the Union victory won at Sail
oris creek were, perhaps, equal to or
greater than those of any other bat
tie fought during the war. The
number killed and wounded was
large ); the number captured in act
ual personal conflict on the field ex
ceeded the captures, under like cir
cumstances, of any other battle
fought on the continent of America.
No battle of modern times records
SO long a list of general officers TAX
en- captive amid the struggle or in
the fury of the engagement as that
of Sailors Creek. There was no ne
gotiation or treaty for surrender
nor was there a superior number OF
Union soldiers over Confederate sol
diers engaged or on the field. Tried
and disciplined troops, well com
manded, of both armies fought in
that battle. Many OF the battles oi
the continent of Europe which have
gone into immortal history were in
significant in comparison with it.
Sailors creek, on which this grea,
battle was fought, is a small stream
in Prince Edwards county, Va Il
flows ingeneral direction Northward
and empties into the Appemattox
Inc battle was fought about two
miles from Rice's station. On March
"a, 1865, Gen. U. S. Grant, from City
. Point, Va, issued orders 10 the ar
mics operating against Richmond
announcing that on March 29th
they would be moved by the iefl
for the purpose turning the enem,
out of his then position General
p. H. Sheridan at that date com
manded the cavalry. having just ar
rived from Winchester, Va, making
a long and memorable raid en- route
He Was assigned to the command o
all the forces who were TO operate in
this movement on the advance ane
the extreme left of Grants army
The battle of Five Forks and ths
capture of the forts and entrenchec
lines ia front of Petersburg causec
the evacuation of Petersburg, anc
Richmond to immediately follow
Gen. Lee ordered the troops of hi,
army, including all employed il
manning and holding the fortified
lines around Richmond and Peters
burg, TO rendezvous at Ameli'
Court House, South Of Rich
mood. eggg sa 81
GEN. GRANTS TACTICS.
Gen. Grant ordered his troops II
move on roads running south OF the
linee of retreat of Gen. Lees army
Gen. Sheridan was continued IN the
advance, with the cavalry, with or
.derx TO assume command of certain
corps OF infantry when they came
up wi4h him. Gen. Lee successfully
concentrated his forces at Amelia
Court House py April 4, and bly,.
ouacked there Gith a leisure that ia.
dicated aconfdeuce ia his ability to
hold that position indefinitely. or to,
10 bis O~n Cine, nos0 sfto anothez
and better .One. osonts welh huqdg-
stood that the ultimate purpose Of