Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-01
EwELL's DESPERATE CHARGE.


By an Eye Witness.
The surrender oil the army OF north
ern Virginia TO Gen. Grant by Gen. Lee
at Appomattox, April ,, lsoo' was an
event OF such vast Importance To the
country that the battle OF Sailors creek,
fought on the afternoon OF April o, was
In great measure cast into the shade
petersburg had fallen and the victor
ious army OF the Potomac was In hot
pursuit oil Lees retreating forces On
April D. the sixth army corps command
ed by Maj. Ten Horntio IT, wright,
was ordered from the right TO the leit
OF the army near Burkesville. RAISING
through the little hamlet OF Deaton-
vile, the railroad was reached before
daylight on the oth. turning 10 tine
right, from whence the sound OF hring
could be heard, the fltth corps was
rapidly marched across the country To-
ward the retroating confederate trains,
where the cavalry under Sherldan was
hotly engaging the rear guard OF the
enemy. brig ten. Z. warren heltcrs
brigade OF the Third division OF the
sixth corps was in the advance Inc
entire Third division, Maj Gen. Soy.
battle and thrown upon the enemy.
The road was soon IN the possession OF
the union troops ana large NUMBER OF
prisoners ana wagons were captured
The hrst DIVISION Mal-uen FRANK
Wheaton now appeared upon the scene
and joined the 3d. taking position on
It's left, and the line OF battle thus ex-
tended advanced rapidly, diving the
enemy The two divisions passed ON
lighting the rear guard OF the enemy
until sailors creek was reached be
yond this stream the confederates mad
thrown up oreastworks' ana mere they
made determined stand ana awaited
the attack OF the union troops Under
cover OF hehVy artiiiery hre the Two
divisions oil the oth corps crossed the
swempy ground bordering the stream
ana tine creek itseii ana with eNuitaht
cheers charged gailantiy up the heights
~ the summit OF when the enemy was
lntrenched' here hand-to-hahu con-
met was engaged IN ana the most oes-
pera'e charges anu counter-charees
We're made bayonets were treeiy usea
and the men dubbed their muske" ana
iought as II ihdiViuual ueeah Oh Vaior
could WIN the day Many We're killed
ana wounded among 'he natter loni
custer orother oil George n; custer
VINO fell win MIN at the oattle OF the
lhttle big morn, june ~ io'o' ION
wore medal oil honor lot capturing
confederate nag on thts peeNs'H
heaVy column OF the enemy uieu
To break the line ana charged so imPeV'
nously ana desperately tnat they sue
ceeded IN piercing H. ouI troops Oh ,he
o'n corps u" 'ne 'is"' o." 49,.
ued 70 advance ana the galian'
men OF the charging column Oh cohieu,
crates were enVeIopeu, surrounded ana
cut TO pieces Inc shHttered 10" tha'
remained were compelleu 10 surrehoe,,
Inc charge Oh the eohieuera'es' III
things considered was perhaps, as gar
! liant as any maze py troops Oh er,nei
SIDE during the war Oh tne reoeiiioh'
, MAJ. ten wright sain OF II:
Never was ! more as'on,sheo ihes'
troops were surrounded inc 10y nh'
~ divisions OF the corps were on eilhe'
hanks' my artliery ana i,esh NlhS Oh
+ division In their tront anu sone thrc'
divisions OF MaJ'-Sen' eheriaans caVai
} ry in their rear LOOKING on 'hem u
, already our prisoners, l hau oIaere'
: the artillery TO cease nrihs as uletaV
OF humanity MY surprise therefore
, was extreme when TINS force oharge'
, upon our 'front.' out the nre OF our ~
! fantry, when mad already gained 'he,
Hank the capture OF the superior ON
GERS already 10 our hsnds' 'he con once.
trated and murderous nre OF SIX o"tve'
range brought them promptly to a sur
render"
Gen. Wright had captured Gems
Ewell. Curtis, Lee and three other ger
eral officers and Ewells entire corps G
about seventy-five hundred men, &c
gether with many battle flags and NJ
merous officers Gems. Wright an