Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-08-06
EWELL'S DESPERATE CHARGE.

by an Eye Witness.
The surrender of the army of north
ern Virginia to Gen. Grant by Gen. Lee
at Appomattox, April 0, 1865, was an
event of such vast Importance to the
country that the battle of Sailors creek,
fought on the afternoon of April 6, was
IN great measure cast into the shade.
Peters burg had fallen and the victor
ious army of the Potomac was in hot
pursuit of Lees retreating forces. On
April s. the Sixth army corps, command
ed by Maj.-Gen. Horatio q. Wright,
was ordered from the right to the left
of the army near Burkesville. Passing
through the little hamlet of Dcaton-
vile, the railroad was reached before
daylight on the 9Th. Turning to the
right, from whence the sound of firing
could be heard, the Fifth corps was
rapidly marched across the country to-
ward the retreating confederate trains,
where the cavalry under Sheridan was
hotly engaging the rear guard of the
enemy. Brig. Gen. E. Warren keifer's
brigade of the Third division of the
Sixth corps was in the advance. The
entire Third division, Maj. Gen. Sey-
mour, was quickly formed in line of
battle and thrown upon the enemy.
The road was soon in the possession of
the union troops and large number of
prisoners and wagons were captured.
The first division, Maj-Gen. Frank
Wheaton, now appeared upon the scene
and joined the Sd, taking position on
its left, and the line of battle thus en-
tended advanced rapidly, driving the
enemy. The two divisions passed on
fighting the rear guard of the enemy
until Sailors creek was reached Be
yond this stream the confederates had
thrown up breastworks. and here they
made Il determined stand and awaited
the attack of the union troops. Under
cover of a heavy artillery fire the two
divisions of the 9th corps crossed the
swampy ground bordering the stream
and the creek itself and with exultant
cheers charged gallantly up the heights.
at the summit of which the enemy was
intrenched. Here hand-to-hand con-
fiict was engaged in and the most des-
perate charges and counter-charges
were made. Bayonets We're freely used
and the men dubbed their musliets and
fought as if individual deeds of valor
could win the day. Many We're killed
Custer, brother of George A. Custer,
who fell with him at the battle of the
Little Big Horn, June -, 1876. Tom
wore medal of honor for capturing
confederate flag on this occasion.
A heavy column of the enemy tried
to break the line and charged so impet-
uously and desperately that they sue
ceeded in piercing it, but troops of the
9th corps on the right and left contin-
ued to advance and the gallant
men of the charging column of confed-
crates were enveloped, surrounded and
cut to pieces. The shattered few that
remained were compelled to surrender.
The charge of the confederates, all
things considered, was, perhaps, as gal
liant as any made by troops of either
side during the war of the rebellion.
Maj. Gen. Wright said of it:
Never was more astonished. These
troops We're surrounded. The 1st and
Sd divisions of the corps were on either
TANKS, my artillery and Il fresh (the 3d)
division in their front and some three
divisions of Ma. Gen. Sheridan's caval-
ry in their rear. Looking on them as
already our prisoners, | had ordered
the artillery to cease firing as dictate
of humanity. My surprise, therefore,
was extreme when this force charged
upon our 'front.' but the fire of our in
fantry, which had already gained their
flank, the capture of the superior Off
GERS. already in our hands, the concen-
trated and nurderous fire of six batter
les of our artillery within effective
range, brought them promptly to sur
render"
Gen. Wright had captured Gems.
Evell, Curtis. Lee and three other gem
erill officers and Ewelrs entire corps of
about seventy-fve hundred men, to-
gether with many battle flags and nu-
merous officers Gems. Wright and
Ewell had been classmates at West
Point and the captured general was the
victorious commanders honored guest
as we'll as his prisoner of war. Gen.
Ewelrs staff officers were cared for by
the staff of Gen. Wright.
Of this Gen. Wright says: "To the
Sixth corps had fallen the opportunity
OF striking the decisive blows, not only
at Petersburg on the I'd of April, but at
Sailors creek ON the 9th, and most gal
liant did it vindicate the confidence re-
posed in it by it's own officers and by
the commander of the Army of the
Potomac, The corps had always fought
well, but never better than in the as
sault at Petersburgh and Mt Sailors
creek. four days later"
The Sixth corps lost in this battle 1855
killed, LOLA wounded; total, 1850 The