Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
IT'S HEROIC CONDUCT AT THE BAT
TIE OF SAILORS CREEK.
MADE A BRILLIANT CHARGE.
TESTIMONY OF CONFEDERATE AND
UNITED STATES OFFICERS.
SOUTH CAROLINA IN The VAR.
Elaborate Report OF the Historian
of RecordS-Compnny IL, Thirteenth
VIRGINIA CavaIry-The Killed,
wounded, Captured, and Promoted'
st.oLouIs. December 90


To the Editor OF the Dispatch'
While on a visit 10 Richmond last sprinG
I gave some "reminiscences Of the evaeua-
ton. retreat, Sailors Creek &C. when
appeared in your issue OF May 22d.
! had 20 rely entirely on memory end
was. therefore, very careful IN my STATE
ments. / have recently been looking over
the Records Of the Union ana Conisde-
rate Armies" published by the govern
nent and in Series /. Volume XVII. Part
found the official reports Of command
ing officers Of both armies, when eohilr'n'
IN a striking degree. my reconections'
These reports make special mention OF
The conspicuous part borne by the "Artil-
,erv Brigade" at Sailors Creek. l quote
"a follows: Major-General G. w. c. Lee
commanding the division, composed OF
Rarton's and OF Crutchheld's Artillery
Brigade. says:
oBefore my troops got into position
across the creek the enemy opened
heavy fire Of artillery upon our line whlch
was continued up 10 the time of.our cap
ture. After shelling our lines ano shlr-
rnishine for some time-an hour or more
the enemys infantry advanced ana Were
repulsed, and that portion when attacheu
the Artillery Brigade was charged by II
and driven back across Sailors creek
.SrbIs brigade was then brought back TO
.ts original position, under heavy hre
OF artillery. Finding that Kershaw 5,
which was on my right, had been obliged
10 retire in consequence OF tho enemy
having turned his right flank, and mat
my command was entirely surrounded 10
Dreveut useless sacrifice Of life the firlng
was stopped by some OF my oincers' alaeo
bv some OF the enemys, and the oihcers
and men taken as prisoners or war i
cannot too highly praise the cononcI OF
nv command, and hope 10 have the op-
portunity of doing it full justice when
reports are received from the brigade
commanders. Among a number OF brave
man killed or wounded, ] regret 10 have
10 announce tho name of Colonel Crutch-
field. who commanded the ARTILLERY Brl-
gade. He was killed after CALAMITY lead
ing a successful charge against Inc enc
my"
Lieutenant General Ewel commanding
the CORPS Q<ershaw's and q. w. G. Lees
divisions says that the Artillery Brigade
OF Lees Division displayed GOODNESS
and callantry that earned the praise OF
the veterans who fought alongside or II,
and even Of the enemy
Our dashing cavalry leader, General
Fitxhugh Lee says: Though portions OF
the force, particularly the command OF
General O. w c. Lee, fought with gal
lantry never surpassed, their defeat and
surrender were inevitable
/ will now quote from the report OF the
Federal commander, Major-General II. c.
Wright. commanding the Sixth Corps
Army OF the Potomac. After describing
the disposition Of his troops and our po-
sition on the opposite side Of Sailors
creek. General Wright says:
1.-THE First and Third divisions changed |
the enemy's position, carrying II hand |
somely, except at point on our right |
Of the road crossing the creek where a |
column. said 10 be composed exclusively
of the Marine artillery Brigade and |
other troops. which had held the lines OF |
Richmond previous TO the evacuation, |
made counter charge upon that part OF |
our line in their front. was never more |
astonished.
These troops were surrounded. The |
First and Third divisions of this corps |
were on either flank; my artillery and |
a fresh division IN their front, and some /
three divisions OF Major-General Sheri- |
dams cavalry in their rear Looking |
upon them as already our prisoners. or
deied the artillery 70 cease firing, as a /
dictate Of humanity.
MY surprise was. therefore, extreme
when this force charged upon our front;
but the fire of our infantry, which had
already gained their iianks, the capture
Of their superior officers, already In our
hands. the concentrated and murderOus
fire OF six batteries Of our artillery within
effective range, brought them promptly |
20 a surrender"
1t is needless for me TO add a word |
20 the proud record Of the Artillery Bri-
gade' at Sailors creek That record is
now a part Of the history of this great |
country; but by giving this a place in |
your Confederate Column. II will doubles
reach the eyes OF many 10 whom the
vOluminous government records may not |
be accessible.
THOMAS BALLARD BLAKE,
Late Captain Company +, Tenth Virginia
Battalion. Artillery Brigade.