Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-08-18
DESPERATE CHARGE

The surrender of the army of north
ern Virginia to Gen. Grant by Gen. Lee
at Appomattox, April Q, 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 a great measure cast into the shade.
Petersburg had fallen and the victor
ious army of the Potomac was in hot
pursuit of Lees retreating forces. On
April 5, the Sixth army corps, command
ed by Maj.-Gen. Horatio G. Wright,
was ordered from the right to the left
of the army near Burl1esville. Passing
through the little hamlet of Deaton-
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-
fmour, 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, Malice Frank
Wheaton, now appea<ed upon the scene
and joined the Sd, taking position on
its left, and the line of battle thus ex-
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 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
iswampy ground bordering the stream
I and the creek itself and with exultant
cheers charged gallantly up the heights,
at the summit of which the enemy was
intrenched. Here a hand-to-hand con-
fict was engaged in and the most des-
perate charges and counter-charges
We're made. Bayonets were freely used
and the men dubbed their muskets and
fought as if individual deeds of valor
could win the day. Many were killed
and wounded among the latter Tom
Custer, brother of George A. Custer,
who fell with him at the battle of the
Little Big Horn, June %, 1876. Tom
wore a medal of honor for capturing a
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.
Ma. Gen. Wright said of it;
Never was more astonished. These
troops were surrounded The 1st and
Sd divisions of the corps were on either
TANKS, my artillery and a fresh the 3D.
division in their front and some three
divisions of Maj.-Gen. Sheridan's caval-
ry in their rear. Looking on them as
already our prisoners, / had ordered
the artillery to cease firing as a dictate
of humanity. My surprise, therefore,
was extreme when this force charged
upon our front; but the fire of our in
I fantry, which had already gained their
flank, the capture of the superior Off
GERS, already in our hands, the concen-
trated and murderous fire of six batter
range, brought them promptly to a sur
render"
Gen Wright had captured Gems.
Ewell, Curtis. Lee and three other gen
eral officers and Ewells entire corps of
about seventy-iive 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 well as his prisoner of war. Gen.
Ewell's staff officers were cared for by
the staff of Gen Wright.
OF this Gen Wright SAYS: '.To the
Sixth corps had fallen the opportunity
at Peters burg 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 its 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 at Sailors
creek four days later.
The Sixth corps lost in this battle 1865
K illed. LOLA wounded; total. 1,1s0 The