Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12
BIZ BATTALION ANNIHILATED.
The Summary Of a Most Gallant Re
cord.
HAMPTON ROADS ENGAGEMENT

Tomorrow is the thirty-frst anniver-
sary OF the battle OF Sailors Creek. VA
in which the Savannah Volunteer Guards
Battalion fought its last battle. and in
which many Savannahians were killed
and wounded.
The Guards were known in the Confede-
rate army as the Eighteenth Battalion
OF Georgia Volunteers, which was COM
manded by the gallant Major (afterward
ColoneD w. S. Basinger, distinguished
lawyer and citizen of this city, but now
residing at Athens.
The battle OF Sailors Greek was one
OF the several battles which took place
Iter General Lee evacuated Petersburg,
aud just before the surrender Of the
army at Appomattox. The Confederate
army, says the Savannah News, Of the
9th. decimated and starving, was
brave,y trying TO make its way through
the Gordon which General Grants hosts
were forming around II. Tbo Eighteenth
Battalion was hemmed in, and attempted
10 break the enemy's lines, but was ami
hilated in the attempt, every officer and
man being either killed, wounded, or cap
tured.
The Guards went to Virginia when
every available armed man that could be
spared was needed TO reinforce Lees
army. Although In service from the be-
ginning of the war. the operations of the
battalion had been confined to the coast
3n the neighborhood of Savannah and
Charleston. where there was much I'M
pleasant duty. but very little fighting
The battalion had done some good SER
vice In Charleston harbor. however. where
It distinguished itself in the repulse of the
attack on Battery Wagner, on Morris
Island, after which IL did service for
several months on Morris and James
islands, in the defence OF Charleston.
IL May. 1864. the order came for the
battalion to go TO Virginia, and was re-
ceived with rapturous cheers by the men,
who were tired of the monotony of garri-
son life. In the fall the battalion was
Joined with six other battalions. which
were stationed with IL at Chains Bluff,
on the James river, into a small brigade.
commanded by Colonel Crutchiield, which
was attached to the division of General
q. w. GUSTS Lee, son of General Robert
u. Lee. On this account General Gusts
Lee has been an honorary member OF the
corps since its reorganization after the
war.
Tho battalion had the same hard expe-
rience with the rest of the Army Of
Northern Virginia during the winter of
lssl-'s5. It's only shelter was a few rag
gcd old tents, and these were not suffl-
Gent for all Fuel was scarce and very
difficult 10 obtain. Their only rations
were pound OF corn-meal and a third
OF a pound of bacon a day. The duty
was also very severe. How would the $50
young fellows who looked so brave in the
last annual parade of the Guards enjoy
soldering under such circumstances? But
Il was the game class of men who COM
posed the battalion In 1864, and their sue
oessors would do the same thing now II
Il were necessary to do so.
When Lee evacuated Petersburg on the
night OF April I'd the Guards marched
out with the rest of the army. 1t was an
all-night march and ell the next day.
then few hours rast. and the march re-
sumed before dawn. This continued I'M
I'll April 9th, when Lees retreatirg army
was brought to bay at Sailors Creek,
General Gordon's Corps was the true rear
guard, but In the various operations and
movements OF the day General Ewells
Corps. OF which Custis Lees Division was
a part, got into the rear, and In It's turn
became the rear guard. The army was
hemmed in. but the men did not know 1t.
The Guards were fording Sailors creek,
with the color-bearer in the middle carry
ing the color-staff inclined upon his Shout
der. when a spent bullet struck the stan.
splitting 1t exactly in the middle and just
bufying itself In the crack. The bull
let came from ahead. and the men saw
that they were surrounded. GUSTS Lees
piyiaion was the rear OF the corps. Crutch-
FIELDS Brigade in the rear OF the divis-
ton. and the Guards at the rear OF the
brigade. The brigade was halted a few
hundred yards from the creek. about half
way up the slope OF long ACTIVITY, and
the line formed. with the Guards on the
extreme right OF the line.
Major Baslnger, In his review OF the his
tory Of tho Guards. gives BRIEF but in
tsresting. account OF the battle:
"When the eneIny's infantry began TO
ascend the slope TO attack the Confederate
troops holding their fire until they should
get quite near. a strong body was discov-
cred making It's way through thicket OF
piaes on the right OF the Guarcs so as 70
take them on the flank and rear. Fortur
nately. they were impeded and disorderec
BY tho thickness OF the grove. Major Bas-
che extreme right OF the GUARDS.
There WIS no time for celebration. He
Immediately marched the battalion BY the
right hank obliquely 10 the rear, liking
bayonets as they went. 90 as 10 face this
unexpected enemy. and reforming his
line. attacked at once with the bayonet,
while they were yet entangled In the
wood The Guards were but eighty-sive
that day. and nothing but tho disorder
OF the enemy Ia the thickst saved them.
Their attack was successful; the enc
\ my was driven of. with the loss Of two
fcgimentai iiags and many killed. but