Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
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| Sayler's Creek Battlefield | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Nearest city: | Farmville, Virginia |
| Area: | 1,022 acres (414 ha)[1] |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | Colonial |
| Designated as NHL: | February 4, 1985[2] |
| Added to NRHP: | February 04, 1985[3] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 85002436 |
| Governing body: | State |
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park, also known as Sayler's Creek Battlefield, is a state park in the state of Virginia, which was the site of the Battle of Sayler's Creek of the American Civil War. Robert E. Lee's army was retreating from the Richmond to Petersburg line. Here, on April 6, 1865, Union General Philip Sheridan cut off and beat back about a quarter of Lee's army. Eight Confederate generals surrendered, and 7,700 men were lost. This was the last major engagement of the war; Lee's surrender at Appomattox occurred three days later.
The battle was comprised of three separate engagements, which may be termed the Battle of Hillsman's Farm, the Battle of Marshall's Cross Roads (or Battle of Harper's Farm), and the Battle of Lockett's Farm (or Battle of Double Bridges).[1] The Hillsman house served as a hospital for both Confederate and Union troops. Bloodstains still remain on the floor from when it served as a hospital after the battles.[4][5] The Lockett house is in its original state. The Christian house is also there.[2][1]
Areas in the NHL site include four portions of 800 acres, 215 acres, 5 acres, and .6 acres. These are indicated on topographical maps included in the Virginia DHR provided version of the NRHP documents.[6] Only 321 acres are covered by the current state park.
It is located on Virginia Routes 617, 618, and 619 in Farmville and Burkeville, in Amelia and Prince Edward counties in Virginia. From 1865 to the area's nomination for the National Register in 1984, the area saw little development, and remained much as it was during the battles. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.[1]
Costumed interpreters station the park throughout the year. Living history performers are active in the park during the anniversary of the battle every April.[7]
The land was originally named in the 1700's for a farmer named Saylor. During the Civil War, the name was changed to Sayler. Some official records called it Sailor, which is what the state of Virginia uses for the park.[8] Other official records such as those of the National Historic Landmark program call it Sayler and refer to the related park as being named the Sayler's Creek Battlefield State Park.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Christopher M. Calkins (June, 1984), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sayler's Creek BattlefieldPDF (32 KB), National Park Service (includes 6 maps describing the battle) and Accompanying four photos, from 1936PDF (32 KB)
- ^ a b Sayler's Creek Battlefield. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Battle of Sayler's Creek site photos
- ^ http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951008/10060064.htm
- ^ Christopher M. Calkins (June, 1984), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sayler's Creek BattlefieldPDF (32 KB), National Park Service (includes 6 maps describing the battle, and topographical maps showing the four NHL site areas)
- ^ http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/documents/vspguide.pdf pg.9
- ^ WS_FTP\csn\saylor,creek
[edit] External links
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