Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22
Sailors Greek BATTLE
MEMORABLE CONFLICT
Ono OF Wars Severest Engagements
Fought Three Days Before Sur
render at Appomattox.
LAST GREAT ACTION OF LEE
Following This Historic Clash, His
Army Passes Into History-OEe Of
Closing Scenes In Tragedy Takes
Place in Amelia.
Continued From Last Sunday.)
By WALTER A. WATSON.

Fitz Lees report says:
am clearly Of opinion (and only
express 1t because was witness Of
all that happened until just previous
to the surrender) that had the troops
been rapidly massed when their march
was hrst interrupted. they could have
cleared the way and been able to fall
into line of battle on LonRstreet.s left.
who was taking position at Rice's Sta
ton. some few miles ahead; or had the
heads OF the column been turned OBJ
iiquely on In western direction,
more towards the road to Gordon AMI
the wagon train were moving upon, an
echelon formation been adopted, the
nature OF the ground, wooded and
much broken. would have kept the
cavalry from harassing them sum-
clently to retard their progress. until
the arrival Of their infantry. I rode
out that way with my stan and a few
men Just previous to Ewelrs surrender
and found II so feasible that 1 imme-
diately sent a stan officer back to Cen
eral Ewell and Anderson to reiterate to
them my convictions previously ex-
pressed, and now so much strengthened
by my own experience. The halt al
lowing time for the accumulation OF
the enemys troops. proved fatal"
Whatever might have been accom-
piished had some other course been
pursued. 1t Is useless now to inquire.
1t was determined to fgnt and the
plan was for EweIl to hold the enemy
behind until Anderson could attack,
and open the way in front. Exactly
what occurred in front 1t is dificult. IL
not impossible, now to ascertain. An
derson never made any report Of his
operations. nor have any of his sub
ordinate commanders left anything
from which adequate details can be
gathered. 1t is known that his at
tack failed. and that he himself was
assaiied in turn, and. in the end. his
line overrun and a large portion of
his command captured. including Gen.
erals Hunton and Corse, of Pickett.
OF his troops made good their escape
to the west and rejoined the army be-
yond High Bridge.
What happened to Ewell has been
told by himself and other survivors
His report continues:
My line ran across a little ravine
which leads nearly at right angles
towards Sailors Creek. General c. w.
c. Lee was on the left, with the naval
battalion under Commodore Tucker, be-
hind his right All of Lees and part of
kershaw's division were posted be-
mind rising ground that afforded some
shelter from artillery. Tho creek was
perhaps 800 yards in their front. with
brush pines between and a clear field
beyond IT, In this the enemy's artil-
lery took a commanding position, and,
finding We had none to reply, soon ap-
preached within 500 yards and opened
a terrible IRE. After nearly a half an
hour OF this their infantry advanced,
crossing the creek above and below US
at the same time"
AT this point General Alexander
gives a graphic description OF what
took place:
1T the Confederate line) had no ar
tillery to make reply and lay still while
other Federal infantry was marched
around them. and submitted to an &C
curate and deliberate cannonade for
twenty minutes. followed quickly by a
charge of the two lines (Federal in
fantry). Not gun was fred until
the enemy approached within 100 yards.
showing handkerchiefs as an invitation
to the men to surrender. Then two
volleys broke both of their lines, and
the excited Confederates charged in
pursuit Of the fleeing enemy, but were
soon driven back by the fire OF the
guns. A second charge OF the Fed
erals soon followed in which the two
lines mingled in one promiscuous and
prolonged melee with dubbed muskets
and bayonet as IL bent upon extermi-
mating each other"
AS may have been seen, the lines Of
both Anderson and Ewell had been
left OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the east;
and In this second charge by the enemy
Ewelfs line on that side was fianked,
and Simms's brigade almost surrounded
Seeing this, and the enemy continuing
to pour In on his flank. Kershaw be-
gan to retire the rest OF his line 20 the
left and rear. but having retired some
400 yards In that direction, skirmish-
Ing as he fell back, he found Ander-
sons troops dispersed and the enemy
already closed in upon his rear. There
was nothing left but to yield to over
flowing numbers. and Kershaw and his
with but few exceptions, sur
rendered as prisoners of war.
Meanwhile General Ewell. who had
gone with Anderson to watch the fight
on that side. and having seen the lat
ter's repulse. had turned TO ride back
to his own line, was suddenly sur
rounded by enemy cavalry which had
gained his rear. and forced to surren-
der with his staff. The late Judge F. r.
Farrar. who resided in the vicinity, is