The Battle of Sayler's Creek (also known as Sailor's Creek, Hillsman Farm, or Lockett Farm) was fought April 6, 1865, southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, in the final days of the American Civil War.
After Ulysses S. Grant broke the Confederate defenses at the Siege of Petersburg, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia began a retreat in hopes of linking up with Joseph E. Johnston's army in North Carolina.
On April 6 at Sayler’s Creek, nearly one fourth of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Union cavalry forces under Philip Sheridan and elements of the II and VI Corps. Most surrendered, including Confederate generals Richard S. Ewell, Barton, Simms, Kershaw, Custis Lee, Dubose, Hunton, and Corse. This action was considered the death knell of the Confederate army. Upon seeing the survivors streaming along the road, Lee exclaimed “My God, has the army dissolved?”
Naming the battle
The National Park Service and the state of Virginia both use the more recent name "Sailor's Creek" for this battle. But the historic name was "Sayler's", presumably named for a local property owner. Virtually all of the important Civil War historians (James M. McPherson, Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton, Douglas Southall Freeman, etc.) use the historic spelling.
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