Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15
SAILORS CREEK BATTLE
MEMORABLE CONFLICT
One OF Wars Severcst Engagements
Fought Three Days Before Sur
ys,i~ render at AppomattoX.
LAST GREAT ACTION OF LEE
Following This Historic Clash, His
Army Passes Into History-Onc OF
Closing Scenes in Tragedy Takes
Place in Amelia.
(Continued From Last Sunday)
RY WAITER A. WATSON.

BY WALTER A. WATSON.
= Sheridan, II will be recalled. reached
Jetersvillc late Tuesday evening, and.
besides sending out cavalry force to
reconnoiter the country on the road
: TO sPaineville the next morning. he had
Remained apparently contcndcd with
holding the railroad and hurrying up
the arrival of Mcade's infantry before
he could be attacked as was his mo-
mentary expectation. His headquarters
were in the home OF a. T. Childress.
AS the day wore and no attempt
was made to drive him from the rail-
road. he became suspicious of what
was going on in his front. Early in
the evening a signal officer, who had
climbed to a tree top some half mile
north OF Jetersville, reported that he
could see to the northwest across Flat
Creek some three miles off on the
Deatonsville Road large bodies OF Con-
federate troops. This increased Sheri-
dams anxiety lest Lee should after all
escape him, and he impatiently awaited
the arrival OF Meade. That officer was
sick and did not reach his headquar-
tiers at the house Of Mr.. Ha skins, some
mile and a half southeast of Jetersville.
until late Wednesday evening. Sheri-
dan proposed that. as Lee had not at
tackled. they themselves would take
the Initiative and march upon Amelia
seem inclined, and dispatch was sent
to Grant, apprisinE him Of the state OF
affairs The dispatch reached him
about dark. moving with Ord's infan-
try midway between Nottoway Court
house and Burkeville. He at once set
out across the country and reached
Jetersville before midnight.
When he lay down to sleep that
night at the Childress house, he sus-
pected. but did not know. that the
Confederates had broken camp at
Amelia, and that at that very hour
in the darkness OF the night were ST.
lently marching past his front at Hilr3
Shop (1saac Noble's).
=. So early the next morning the in
fantry in close line across the rail-
road and extending 1000 yards on
either side, was set in motion towards
Amelia Courthouse to attack the
enemy supposed to be still at that
point. 1t was not ascertained GER
tainly until $3.50 A. NJ, .Jhen the ad-
vance had reached Hilrs Shop that the
quarry. had fled. Scouts here reported
ing column to the left OF the road
crossing Flat Creek to Amelia Springs,
and other reports showed that there
was no enemy in force at the court
house. Thereupon it was decided to
change direction.
Humphreys corps was ordered to
turn to the left and pursue the re-
treating column directly on the road
by the springs, and at Flat Creek
coon came upon the rear guard II the
army under Gordon and began at once
n spirited attack.
Griffin's Corps was ordered to fol-
low the road from Hilrs shop to
Pridesville, in order TO strike ror-
tion of the retiring army, which, ac-
In N h. talr Ia II
from the courthouse to Painevillc.
This. of course. was an error. AS no
portion OF the Confederate army was
then upon that road, and, it is need
less to say, Griffin did the Confederates
no harm that day.
through Jetersville. and ordered TO fol-
low Sheridans cavalry on the road
to Pride's Church (now New London)
and Deatonsville. This does not refer
to the road now in use. but to the
one leaving the railroad southwest of
posite Stephen G.. Harper's (now !. T.
Wingo's). and crossing Flat Creek at
Mays Bridget
On approaching Deatonsville the
Federal cavalry found the Confed-
crates passing through that place and
beyond on the jamestown road. but
their hanks were so closely guarded
tho cavalry could make no impression,
and orders were given to move on and
see II weak spot could not be found
further west. A mrle and a half or
two miles southwest..o Deatonsville.
at Hampton's old race course, where
the road from Pride's Church unites
with the jamestown road. and where
the road to Rice branches off to the
south across Sailors Creek. Sheridan
thought he saw an opportunity to cut
in two the Confederate column. When
n oh ID
Anderson's Corps was passing, and
upon 1t he Immediately made attack
In great force with his cavalry. Some
accounts say Anderson's column had
already halted TO allow time for the
wagon train TO be turned of into the
jamestown road: but, however this
may have been. the force OF the cav
airy attack also compelled a halt and
a line OF battle stretching from Sandy
to Sailors Creeks had 10 be thrown
out on the east side of the road be-
fore the cavalry could be driven off
The wagon train having then gotten
out OF reach and the enemy repulsed,
Anderson resumed his march across
Sailors Creek.
Meanwhile, due TO this or some
former delay. not now to be accounted
for, gap had been made in the re-
treating column on the southside Of
Sailors Creek. between the head OF
Division. and the rear of Longstrects
Corps. consisting OF Mahoncs Divi-
sion. Into this gap Sheridan's cav
airy. having crossed the creek at GINS
mill. and perhaps at other points above
the road on which the Confederatcs
marched, now penetrated; and having
charged and captured q wagon train
passing at the time, dismounted and
went into line OF battle across the
Rice road. near the house OF John
Harper (now Dudley vaughan's).
This stopped Anderson's march and
compelled him TO deploy his troops I'm
line on top OF the hill south Of the
creek. in general along the road lead
ing from SWEEP Marshalls to Parson
Adkins's and Gully Tavern. The CORPS
consisted OF the remnants OF Pickett's
and Bushrod Johnson's Divisions. per
haps. in all. 5000 men. In his front
TO the south and on his left to the
east were three divisions of Sheridan's
cavalry. mounted and dismounted.
numbering 1900.
Closely behind Anderson. as he
crossed