the troopers rode over high ground, they
could see Lee’s train moving along through
gaps in the woods. Mile by mile, the blue-
coats drew ever closer to the enemy wag-
ons. For the soldiers of both sides, march-
ing feet, trampling hooves, and rolling
wagon wheels churned the rain-softened
Virginia soil into mud. The soggy ground
made for a fatiguing march for the Feder-
als, but the rainfall affected the Confeder-
ates far more as it slowed the escape of
their dwindling number of supply wagons.
Longstreet led the way for the Confed-
erates, heading toward Farmville along the
Deatonsville Road. Behind Longstreet’s
men were Mahone’s followed by those of
Anderson and Ewell. Gordon’s command-
served as a rear guard and protection for
the wagon train. It was imperative that the
army keep moving, and push well ahead of
the Union forces lest the Confederates find
their way blocked once again.
Disturbing news reached Longstreet that
900 Union soldiers were ahead of them,
intent on burning the High Bridge.
Destruction of the 2,500-foot span of the
Southside Railroad, which crossed the
Appomattox River, would block the way
to Farmville. Longstreet ordered Maj.
Gen. Thomas Rosser’s cavalry to protect
the bridge. Rosser stopped the Federals in
time to save the span, capturing most of
the raiding party. One of Rosser’s officers,
Brig. Gen. James Dearing, was mortally
wounded in the battle. Dearing would be
the last Confederate general killed in
action during the war.
Union scouts spotted the Confederate
wagon train and the accompanying troops
a few miles west of Amelia Court House
near the small community of Deatonsville.
Under Sheridan’s plans, if one division hit
the Rebels from the south, the others were
to move to the left and try to get in front
of the enemy, striking them at some weak
point in the line. Crook’s division attacked
late in the morning, when the wagon train
was near Holt’s Corner. About 11:30 AM,
Smith ordered the 1st Maine Cavalry to
leave the road, form a column of fours,
and charge through the woods to hit the
enemy train. Only a few steps from theroad, the troopers found themselves in a
swamp, their horses sinking in the ground
to their knees at every step. Getting out of
the swamp forced the horsemen to ride sin-
gle file along the few navigable pathways.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan P. Cilley,
too impatient to wait until the entire regi-
ment emerged from the swamp, ordered
an advance. Their way blocked by a fence
they could not ride over, the men dis-
mounted. More troopers joined them, but
they were in the open and exposed to
heavy fire, while trees and woods sheltered
the Confederates guarding the wagons.
Unable to accomplish anything, Cilley’s
regiment pulled back. Elsewhere, the rest
of Crook’s horsemen also found the Rebel
wagons well protected. Devin and Custer
moved to the west while Crook remained
to distract the Confederates.
While Anderson fended off the enemy
cavalry at Holt’s Corner, some of the Con-
federate wagons were sent ahead to join
Longstreet. During the delay caused byCrook’s attack, a gap of two miles had
grown between Anderson and the rest of
the column. The wagons were rolling
unprotected between the vanguard and rear
of the army. Anderson’s troops resumed
their march, reaching Little Sayler’s Creek,
a small but troublesome stream with steep
banks 50 miles west of Richmond.
Although often spelled “Sailor’s” Creek, the
stream actually was named for a local set-
tler named Sayler. After the recent rains, the
creek was overflowing its banks into the
surrounding bottom lands.
Riding to get in front of Anderson,
Custer’s troopers spotted the nearly unpro-
tected wagon train. Colonel Alexander C.
M. Pennington’s brigade hit the wagons as
they rolled down the road, sweeping
through a thin skirmish line of guards and
captured the train. Another three supply
wagons were lost, along with, 800 draft ani-
mals, 10 guns, and a number of prisoners.
One mile past Little Sayler’s Creek,
Anderson came within sight of Custer’sBrigade commander Charles H. Smith was heard to say,
“Today will see something big
in the crushing of the rebellion.”
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