Battle of Sailor's Creek Facts

Also Known As

• Battle of Sayler’s Creek
• Battle of Hillsman Farm
• Battle of Lockett Farm

Date and Location

• April 6, 1865
• Prince Edward and Nottoway Counties, Virginia

Campaign

• Appomattox Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

• Major General Philip Sheridan
• Brigadier General George Custer
• Colonel Charles Smith
• Major General Wesley Merritt
• Major General Horatio Wright

Principal Confederate Commanders

• Major General Richard Anderson
• Lieutenant General Richard Ewell
• Major General John B. Gordon
• Major General Custis Lee
• Major General Joseph B. Kershaw

Union Forces Engaged

• 2nd Corps (Army of the Potomac)
• 6th Corps (Army of the Potomac)

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Army of Northern Virginia

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 25,000–26,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 18,500

Estimated Union Casualties

• 1,148 soldiers (killed, wounded, and captured/missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

• 7,700 soldiers (killed, wounded, and captured/missing)

Results of the Battle of Sailor’s Creek

• The outcome of the Battle of Sailor’s Creek was a Union victory.
• Most of the Confederate casualties were captives.
• As Lieutenant General Robert E. Lee watched the Federals rout his army at the Battle of Sailer’s Creek he exclaimed, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?”

Timeline of the Battle of Sailor’s Creek

These are the main battles and events of the Appomattox Campaign in order.

• March 29, 1865 — Battle of Lewis’s Farm
• March 31, 1865 — Battle of White Oak Road
• March 31, 1865 — Battle of Dinwiddie Court House
• April 1, 1865 — Battle of Five Forks
• April 2, 1865 — Third Battle of Petersburg
• April 2, 1865 — Battle of Sutherland’s Station
• April 3, 1865 — Battle of Namozine Church
• April 5–6, 1865 — Battle of Amelia Springs
• April 6, 1865 — Battle of Sailor’s Creek
• April 6, 1865 — Battle of Rice’s Station
• April 6–7, 1865 — Battle of High Bridge
• April 7, 1865 — Battle of Cumberland Church
• April 8, 1865 — Battle of Appomattox Station
• April 9, 1865 — Battle of Appomattox Court House
• April 9, 1865 — Surrender at Appomattox Court House