The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-05
GUARDS At SAILORS CREEK
Their Gallant Fight During Lees Last
Retreat.

der-A Graphic Description OF the Bat
tie in Which the Guards Battalion
Was Wiped Out of Existence-splen-
did Stand of the Fiftieth Georgia.
Gen. Mcolashan Never Surrendered
His Colors.
The address OF Gen. McGlashan on the
last retreat OF Lees army and the battle
Of Sailors creek was enjoyed by a large
audience at the Guards Arsenal last night
It was Of particular interest 10 the Guards
as it was at this battle that the battalion
was literally annihilated. The subject Of
the address was Our Last Retreat.
Gen. McGlashan was escorted TO the
| platform by Judge William Harden, vice
president Of the Confederate Veterans
Association, and Col William Garrard
| Judge Harden in introducing Gen. Nc
| Glashan explained that a main feature of
the meetings of the Confederate Veter-
ans Association for some time had been
addresses by members upon notable in
cidents of the war in which they were
| prominent actors. The members of the
association Judge Harden said, had ar
rived at the conclusion that it was selfish
tening to these addresses. which were both
interesting and instructive, especially to
the members of the rising generation
which have only a casual &C
quaintance with the events of
the great struggle. The address
of Gen. McGlashan, Judge Harden said,
was the first of these public addresses and
would be delivered by one who was fully
capable of giving a description of the
battle in which he took such prominent
part.
Gen. McGlashan gave an interesting re-
view Of the events which preceded Lees
| surrender. His description of the evacua-
ton of Richmond, with the blazing build
ings, the explosion of the gun boats, which
We're being blown up In the river, the ter
ror stricken people and the looting of the
town by the rabble, was graphic indeed.
Gen. McGlashan's command, the Fiftieth
| Georgia. was the last TO pass through
Richmond and cross the Manchester
bridge, which was already in flames. He
described the retreat of Lees army and
the effort of the rear guard to rejoin the
main army before being cut of by the
head of Grants column. The third corps
under Gen. EWell, was bringing up the
rear, and it was the effort TO stay the ad-
vance of Grants columns which brought
about the battle Of Sailors Creek and re-
suited in the capture of the whole of
Ewelrs corps, after terrible loss on both
sides
Gen. McGlashan took occasion to refer
to the good work of his commssary, Mr.
James r. Sheldon in providing the COM
mand with whatever was to be obtained
in the way of food. His description of his
meeting with the guards and the battle
following almost Immediately thereafter
is as follows:
while forming to resume our march l
noticed a small body of troops, about 100
strong, that attracted my attention. They
had that air of smartness and military
| precision of movement that characterized
all through the war, our troops from the
large cities. Bronzed end soldier-like in
| appearance, they attracted the attention
of my men as they fell in line. Beyond
them body of men in naval uniforms
and armed with cutlasses, and evidently
tagged out with the severe march, lined
up alongside. Crossing over to where
they were l found the old Savannah Vol
unteer Guards, then known as the Eight
zenith Georgia Battalion. The others were
the Chaffn's Bluff battalion, under Col
Styles. The Guards were commanded
by Mai Basinger Poor fellows they
were sadly changed from the magnificent
battalion, $50 strong, last saw encamped
on the heights below Savannah three
years before. Talking with Maj. Basin
ger, 1 learned as we exchanged expert
3 ences, that Grant was close up with the
/ bulk of his force; that Gen. Lee was
ahead with Longstreet and Gordon while
the gallant old third corps under Ewell
was left to guard the rear. Il hardly
think, the major said, we will escape
the day without fight. Their cavalry
have overtaken us and are trying to pass
our TANKS while huge masses of their
I infantry are close behind.
LAS we belonged to Longstreet's corps,
we were naturally anxious to be with our
I'D H.rVN Cot, 1I,1
and we were never to met them again.
During the day we were ordered to CO.
; operate with Ewelrs forces, whose deci-
mated ranks were unable to cover all the
lines of retreat, and stand was ordered
at Sailors creek. The Guards preceding
US we left the road and crossing the creek
l and took position on low eminenee
e | Our line faced to the rear and overlooked
the valley in front, through which the
creek ran. The wagon trains were moving
u on our right, with orders to Commissary
: | Sheldon to burn if unable to escape. On
q our left dense thicket of pines separated
us from the position taken up by the
: Guards. This thicket was for some reason
n left unoccupicd and became the cause of
l disaster to the Guards. Away to the left
stretched the line of Gen. Custis Lees
division and Ewell's line. All the morn
i ing the woods seemed full of the enc
$ my's slSirmishers, firing and advancing,
trying to feel our lines.
~ ''Ihe enemy soon located our position,
when the firing ceased, and they COM
: menced to form their lines for attack
L Utter silence for a time prevailed.
: 1t was beautiful evening The sun
g shone bright over hill and dale. The little
stream brawled peacefully at our feet.
The tender flowers of spring were show
ing above the grass The hum of the in
y sects and the strange silence all around
Il seemed to cast drowsy spell on the men,
b and could see them here and there grad
= ually sinking 70 the ground and pillowing
= their heads on their arms fitfully dream
30 ing perhaps of dear old homes and loved
Al ones in far-off Georgia that many would
IT never see again. Attention! The line
n sprang up, and crouching forward
d brought their rifles to the ready as they
$ glanced keenly and sternly to the front
e "A beautiful spectacle unrolled itself be-
e fore us; line of skirmishers sprang out
z of the woods on the nights before us and
d with arms at the trail came running down
e the slope to the creek. which they tried