text:
Battle of Sailor's Creek
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Battle of Sailor's Creek
(Battle of Sayler's Creek)
Part of the American Civil War

A view of the battlefield as it appeared in 2010
Date
April 6, 1865
Location
Amelia County, Virginia
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Nottoway County, Virginia
37°18′20″N 78°13′41″W / 37.30551°N 78.22797°W / 37.30551; -78.22797Coordinates: 37°18′20″N 78°13′41″W / 37.30551°N 78.22797°W / 37.30551; -78.22797
Result
Union victory[1]
Belligerents
United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Philip H. Sheridan Richard S. Ewell (POW)
John B. Gordon
Units involved
Army of the Potomac
Army of the James
Army of the Shenandoah
Army of Northern Virginia
Strength
25,000–26,000[notes 1] 18,500[notes 2]
Casualties and losses
1,148[2] 7,700 captured; killed/wounded unknown[2]
[show]
v
t
e
Appomattox Campaign
Lewis's Farm
White Oak Road
Dinwiddie Court House
Five Forks
3rd Petersburg
Sutherland's Station
Namozine Church
Amelia Springs
Rice's Station
Sailor's Creek
High Bridge
Cumberland Church
Appomattox Station
Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Sailor's Creek (also known in whole or in part as Sayler's Creek, Little Sailor's Creek, Harper's Farm, Marshall's Cross Roads, Hillsman Farm, Double Bridges, or Lockett's Farm) was fought on April 6, 1865, near Farmville, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, near the end of the American Civil War. It was the largest battle of the Appomattox Campaign and the last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and local Richmond area defense forces commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army (Army of the Shenandoah, Army of the Potomac and Army of the James) under the overall direction of Union General-in-Chief Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant before Lee's surrender of his army to Grant at Appomattox Court House three days later.
The battle actually was a series of at least three large separate actions, including a running battle, fought mostly simultaneously but over varying periods of time on the same day. The battleground was a wide rural area of several miles in both width and length with creeks and bluffs at its western edge. Large units of the Union Army had pursued the Confederates after the fall of Petersburg, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia and the flight of the Confederate forces after the Third Battle of Petersburg. The Confederates were trying to get past the Union pursuers and head south to North Carolina in order to combine with the Confederate army under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston. On April 6, 1865 at Sailor's Creek, some of the pursuing Union units caught up with elements of the Confederate army. Not every unit of both armies fought in all of the engagements at Sailor's Creek because of the timing of the engagements and the large area in which they were fought, and some units of the two armies were too far from the battlefield to participate at all. Except for the archaic and superseded spelling "Sayler's Creek," the alternate names for the battle are names for the separate actions rather than the entire day's action.
As the day developed, increasing numbers of men from Union forces overtook large numbers of Confederate soldiers with their equipment and supplies moving in two separate columns. Approaching the area of the battles, these Confederate Army columns were spread out over several miles of two parallel roads a few miles apart as they moved west with their equipment and wagon trains. The Confederates tried to avoid moving over the rain-soaked terrain off the roads. Delays caused by the need to cross the two small bridges over Sailor's Creek and Little Sailor's Creek and the high bluffs on the far side of the creeks added to the delays. With wagons and equipment moving at different speeds, gaps in the Confederate columns also occurred. The gaps provided easy opportunities for Union Army attacks against parts of the Confederate columns in vulnerable positions. The terrain and choke points, especially at bridges, kept some Confederates on the same side of the creeks as the Union forces, which brought increasing numbers of men to the fight. The terrain, especially high bluffs, slowed and temporarily confined Confederate units on the other side of the creeks. Union forces were able to bring up larger numbers of men than the Confederates had remaining on the near side of the creeks and gain advantageous positions on the battlefield, where they could push the Confederates up against the creeks and the bluffs.
The battle as a whole was a disastrous defeat for the Confederate States Army. The Confederate forces, who were without adequate supplies, especially food and forage, had been dwindling in numbers due to losses in previous smaller engagements during the campaign, overexertion, hunger and consequent straggling and desertion.[3] At least one-fifth and perhaps as many as one-third of the remaining effective soldiers of the Confederate force, including several general officers, were lost at Sailor's Creek. Many were taken prisoner when large groups of the Confederates were surrounded or trapped in the unfavorable terrain. After some fierce fighting including hand-to-hand combat, in the evening of April 6, the Confederate units who could not easily move away from the battlefield, mostly from the corps under the command of Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell, were forced to surrender. Three days later General Lee, who had despairingly witnessed the surrender at Sailor's Creek from a bluff just west of the battlefield, concluded that the remaining depleted and surrounded Confederate units also had no choice but to surrender to avoid annihilation.
Captain Tom Custer, brother of Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer, received a second Medal of Honor in four days for his actions in this battle. This followed his first medal for actions at the Battle of Namozine Church on April 3, 1865.
Contents
[hide]
1 Background
1.1 Military situation
1.2 Battle of Namozine Church
1.3 March toward Amelia Court House
1.4 Beaver Pond Creek
1.5 Amelia Court House
1.6 Paineville, Amelia Springs
1.7 Jetersville
1.8 Union plan
2 Opposing forces
2.1 Union
2.2 Confederate
3 Initial movements
3.1 March and pursuit
4 Battle
4.1 Humphreys v. Gordon: Battle of Lockett's Farm
4.2 Crook, Merritt v. Anderson: Battle of Marshall's Crossroads
4.3 Wright v. Ewell: Battle of Hillsman's House
4.4 Casualties
5 Aftermath
6 Naming the battle
7 See also
8 Footnotes
9 Notes
10 References
11 External links
Background[edit]
Military situation[edit]
Main articles: Appomattox Campaign, Battle of Five Forks, and Third Battle of Petersburg
Further information: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (Siege of Petersburg), Overland Campaign, Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, American Civil War
A review of the Appomattox Campaign before the Battle of Sailor's Creek shows the increasingly desperate circumstances of the Confederate forces leading into the battle. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Union Army (Army of the Potomac, Army of the James, Army of the Shenandoah) broke the Confederate States Army defenses of Petersburg, Virginia at the Battle of Five Forks on April 1 and the Third Battle of Petersburg on April 2. A Union division under the command of Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles also broke up the last defense of the South Side Railroad on the afternoon of April 2, cutting off that railroad as a supply line or route of retreat for the Confederates. General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia evacuated Petersburg, Virginia and the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia on the night of April 2–3 and began a retreat in hopes of linking up with General Joseph E. Johnston's army confronting the Union army group commanded by Major General William T. Sherman in North Carolina.[4][5][6][7]
Battle of Namozine Church[edit]
Most of Lee's army marched west on roads north of the Appomattox River. On April 3, south of the Appomattox River, Union Army cavalry under Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) William Wells's brigade of Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer's division pursued and engaged units of the fleeing Confederate cavalry rear guard under Brigadier General William Paul Roberts at Namozine Creek and Brigadier General Rufus Barringer of W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee's division and the overall command of Major General Fitzhugh Lee at the Battle of Namozine Church.[8] Barringer's Confederate cavalry had bought enough time for Major General Bushrod Johnson's infantry division to pass nearby Namozine Church. When General Johnson approached Namozine Church with his infantry division, Custer's men were forced to retire, allowing the Confederate forces to proceed across Deep Creek, an Appomattox River tributary.[9] After dark, however, Wells's brigade continued to attack Fitzhugh Lee's force along Deep Creek but were finally held off by Bushrod Johnson's infantry at Sweathouse Creek. Brigadier General Barringer and many of his men were captured when Major General Philip H. Sheridan's scouts who were wearing gray uniforms led Barringer and his remaining men into a trap.[9][10] The number of Confederate killed and wounded are unknown except that Bushrod Johnson reported 15 wounded. 350 Confederates were captured. The Union force sustained casualties of 95 killed and wounded at the engagements at Namozine Creek, Namozine Church and Sweathouse Creek on April 3.
March toward Amelia Court House[edit]
Most of the Confederate Army had marched about 21 miles (34 km) west on April 3.[11] In order to meet at the rendezvous point of Amelia Court House that had been designated by General Lee, all of the Confederate commands except those of Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson and Major General Fitzhugh Lee would have to cross the Appomattox River, which turns sharply to the north not far west of the Confederate camps on the night of April 3.[12] On April 4, most of the Confederate army moving over to the south side of the Appomattox River had to use a single muddy road or take widely circuitous routes due to flooding and bridges being out on other roads, slowing progress toward the rendezvous point of Amelia Court House.[13]
By the evening of April 3, most of Lieutenant General James Longstreet's troops had crossed to the west side of the Appomattox River over Goode's Bridge while Major General John B. Gordon's corps was east of the bridge.[11] Amelia Court House was 8.5 miles (13.7 km) to the west.[14] Ewell's force could not cross the river at the Genito Bridge as planned because a necessary pontoon bridge expected to be there had not arrived.[15] After marching south, Ewell's men crossed the river on a Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge over which they had placed planks.[15] They camped on April 4 about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the bridge.[15] Gordon's corps was at Scott's Shop 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Amelia Court House, waiting for Ewell's column to catch up.[15] Mahone's men marched to Goode's Bridge but did not go into Amelia Court House until he was told that the force from Richmond had arrived.[16]
Beaver Pond Creek[edit]
On the line of march west toward the Confederate Army's rendezvous point of Amelia Court House on Bevill's Bridge Road, Lieutenant General Anderson had the remaining men of Major Generals George Pickett and Bushrod Johnson's divisions build earthworks and form a line of battle at Tabernacle Church Road to protect the forces in retreat from attack from the pursuing Union forces to their south.[17]
On April 4, Custer's cavalry division rode west toward Jetersville, Virginia on the Richmond and Danville Railroad, 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Amelia Court House and 10 miles (16 km) of Burkeville Junction, Virginia.[18] Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Wesley Merritt with Brigadier General Thomas Devin's cavalry division crossed Deep Creek at Brown's Bridge and headed straight past Tabernacle Church to Beaver Pond Creek where late in the day, a Michigan regiment from the division sent Anderson's skirmishers back to their field works.[18][19] Coming up toward the works, Devin's entire division, mostly dismounted, skirmished with portions of Major Generals Henry Heth's, Bushrod Johnson's and George Pickett's infantry.[18][20][21] About 10:00 p.m., Devin was ordered to pull back to Jetersville and he led his men to that point after burning a nearby mill.[15][18]
Amelia Court House[edit]
On the morning of April 4, Union Brigadier General Ranald Mackenzie's command crossed Deep Creek and reached the Five Forks of Amelia County, only about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Amelia Court House, where is 1st Maryland Cavalry (U.S.) skirmished with the 14th Virginia Cavalry.[15]
An advance party of Union Major General George Crook's cavalry division reached the important railroad intersection of Burkeville Junction, Virginia by 3:00 p.m., blocking the Richmond and Danville Railroad route to the southwest.[18] The main body of Crook's cavalry division and Brigadier General Joshua Chamberlain's infantry brigade from the V Corps also headed toward Jetersville, arriving before dark.[18] A few hours later, the rest of the V Corps arrived at Jetersville and started to entrench, even extending the trenches across the railroad tracks.[22] The arrival of the entire V Corps at Jetersville ended Lee's last chance to move south along the railroad, although if he had chosen to send Longstreet's corps which had arrived first at Amelia Court House south against the gathering Union force, his trailing divisions probably could not have caught up.[22][23] Lieutenant General Richard Ewell's corp was still trying to cross the Appomattox River at 10:00 p.m.; Anderson was still skirmishing with Devin at Beaver Pond Creek; Gordon was several miles behind at Scott's Shop; and, Mahone was not far from Goode's Bridge, waiting to protect the bridge in case Ewell could find no other river crossing.[24][25] When Devin's cavalry broke off the engagement at Beaver Pond Creek, no Union force threatened the rear of Lee's army and Anderson's and Mahone's forces did not need to lag behind as rear guards.[26] They did not arrive at Amelia Court House until well into the next day.[27]
Lee had expected to find rations for the army at Amelia Court House but found only an inadequate stockpile of rations and a trainload of ordnance.[14][25] Lee waited for the rest of the army to catch up and sent foraging parties into the county which yielded few provisions despite Lee's personal appeal in a proclamation that day.[19][25] Yet Union Army foragers were able to find abundant provisions on the march as their wagons began to fall far behind on the muddy roads.[28] Lee also ordered 200,000 rations to be sent from Danville via the railroad.[19] Sheridan intercepted this message at Jetersville later that day.[16] Lee also ordered that the number of wagons and artillery pieces with the army be reduced and precede the infantry on the march with the best horses. The extra equipment was to be sent by a circuitous route to the north with the weaker animals, sent by rail or destroyed.[29][30] The 200 guns and 1,000 wagons that Lee's army had taken on their flight would be reduced by almost one-third.[31]
A week later, Lee said the delay at Amelia Court House assured the Confederate defeat and surrender.[26] Some modern historians have emphasized the failure to have an expected pontoon bridge at the Genito Road crossing was the key factor in keeping Lee's trailing divisions from reaching Amelia Court House on April 4.[26][32][33] A pontoon bridge had been placed at Goode's Bridge but traffic there became heavily congested because the approaches to Bevill's Bridge also were blocked by high water.[34] Lee did not mention the missing pontoon bridge in his remarks a week later but instead blamed the delay entirely on the lack of supplies at Amelia Court House, but as some historians have pointed out, many of his men and wagons had not arrived at Amelia Court House on April 4 and were not in a position to advance until some time on April 5 even if he had not stopped the others to rest and forage.[26] Historian William Marvel wrote that "as badly as Lee needed to keep moving that night, he needed even more to concentrate his forces."[27]
Paineville, Amelia Springs[edit]
On the morning of April 5, Sheridan sent Brigadier General Henry E. Davies's brigade of Major General George Crook's division to scout for Confederate movements beyond Amelia Court House near Paineville, or Paine's Cross Roads, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Amelia Springs.[35] At Paineville, Davies found a headquarters wagon train guarded by Brigadier General Martin Gary's cavalry brigade.[35] This was the wagon train that had left Richmond with provisions for Lee's army, including food and ammunition for Ewell's corps.[30] Since it had followed a more circuitous route north of Genito Bridge on Paineville Road, it had only some cavalry escort.[30] The train crossed to the south side of the Appomattox River by the Clemmentown Bridge.[30]
As Davies's brigade slowly passed the resort at Amelia Springs, the wagon train with excess artillery and equipment started up the Paineville Road from Amelia Court House toward Paineville at the same time as the wagon train from Richmond headed south on that road toward Paineville.[30] Local citizens began to spread out on horseback to warn the Confederates of the Union cavalry incursion.[36]
Davies attacked the lead section of the wagon train, two companies of artillery, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Paineville, and quickly rounded up 300 soldiers and as many African-American teamsters.[36] The Union cavalrymen cut many horses and mules out of their traces, captured five new Armstrong guns and burned more that 100 wagons of provisions.[36] Davies's troopers destroyed Major General Custis Lee's supplies including all the spare ammunition.[37] Leading wagons from the train which left Amelia Court House, including Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters baggage, Robert E. Lee's headquarters wagons with many reports and some ambulances and medical supplies, also were caught by the Union raiders.[35][38] Stragglers and sick soldiers finally gathered to stop the destruction.[38]
Before Davies could return to Jetersville, his brigade was attacked near Amelia Springs by Brigadier General Martin Gary's cavalry brigade and a much larger force of Thomas L. Rosser's and Colonel Thomas T. Munford's divisions under Major General Fitzhugh Lee.[39] Davies's force was driven back across Flat Creek.[39] Acting as a rear guard, the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry Regiment held off the Confederate pursuers, allowing Davies's main column with prisoners and captured horses, mules and artillery to move past Amelia Springs.[39][40] At Amelia Springs, the other brigades of Crook's division under Brigadier General J. Irvin Gregg and Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) Charles H. Smith provided reinforcements, allowing Davies's force to reach Jetersville with their prisoners, guns and teams.[39] Davies returned with his men to Amelia Springs to help defend against the Confederate cavalry attack.[40]
Crook's cavalry division had casualties of 13 killed, 81 wounded and 72 missing and probably taken prisoner in three encounters during the day. Fitzhugh Lee said he counted 30 dead Union soldiers along the way.[notes 3] Davies captured 320 Confederate soldiers and 310 African-Americans whom he described as teamsters.[41] He also captured 400 animals and 11 flags while destroying about 200 wagons.[41] Confederate casualties were unreported but two Confederate captains are known to have been mortally wounded.[42]
Jetersville[edit]
Having not been able to find much food in the Amelia Court House area and with the Union Army closing in, Lee started his army marching down the route of the Richmond and Danville Railroad toward Jetersville, Virginia at 1:00 p.m. on April 5.[43]
Nearing Jetersville and hearing skirmish fire in front, Lee discovered that his route to Danville along the railroad was blocked at Jetersville by the fast-moving Union cavalry under Major General Philip Sheridan.[35][44] Union infantry was reported by cavalry scouts to be nearby but in fact the V Corps had already reached Jetersville.[44]
Lee decided his men were too spread out and it was too late in the day to attack the Union force at Jetersville.[44] So the Confederates would have to march back up the Richmond and Danville Railroad to road upon which to make another night march to Farmville. At Farmville, 23 miles (37 km) west on the South Side Railroad, Confederate Commissary General Isaac St. John told General Lee that he would have 80,000 rations waiting.[44] From Farmville, Lee might be able to reach the Richmond and Danville at Keysville, Virginia if the Confederates could outpace the Union forces.[35][44]
The Confederate march was held up before the troops could reach Amelia Springs because a bridge was out at Flat Creek which needed to be repaired to allow the passage of wagons and artillery.[44] During the night, Union spies dressed in Confederate uniforms were captured with a message that showed the disposition of the Union forces.[45]
Union plan[edit]
Lieutenant General Grant reached Major General Sheridan's headquarters at Jetersville about 10:30 p.m.[46] Near midnight, Grant and Sheridan met with the ill Major General George Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac.[46] Grant said he had no doubt Lee was moving right then, but he did not order Meade to change his plan.[46] Sheridan also was convinced that Lee would not remain static at Amelia Court House.[46] Despite their skepticism about Lee staying at Amelia Court House, Grant directed him to advance early in the morning on Amelia Court House if Meade persisted in his view that that was the appropriate move.[46] By this time, the II Corps, V Corps and VI Corps of the Army of the Potomac were available at Jetersville to move against the Confederate army.[46] The soldiers of Meade's three corps were given coffee at 4:00 a.m. and were told to be ready to move at daybreak.[46]
In the morning, Humphreys discovered everyone asleep at William Hays's Second Division headquarters at 6:00 a.m., when their march was scheduled to begin, he replaced Hays as division commander with Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Francis Barlow, who had just reported for duty.[47] Barlow's division did not become engaged at Sailor's Creek because, based on erroneous information about a Confederate column, that division was ordered to move too far to the right.[48]

Lee's retreat and Grant's pursuit in the Appomattox Campaign, April 2–9, 1865.

Opposing forces[edit]
Union[edit]
Further information: Appomattox Campaign Union order of battle
Confederate[edit]
Further information: Appomattox Campaign Confederate order of battle
Initial movements[edit]
March and pursuit[edit]
The Confederate movements west from Amelia Springs put the Confederate army into precarious positions as their long columns became both spread out and eventually delayed as they reached choke points at bridges over Sailor's Creek and Little Sailor's Creek and high bluffs which needed to be traversed west of the creeks.
Lee had his army in motion on the night of April 5–6. Longstreet's combined First and Third Corps led the Confederate night march west, followed by two divisions commanded by Richard Anderson, Richard Ewell's Reserve corps (Richmond garrison troops), the main wagon train, and John Gordon's Second Corps.[47] Longstreet's route of march took his men to Amelia Springs, then on the road to Deatonville on their way to Rice's Station on the South Side Railroad.[49]
Lee's corps moved on parallel roads from Amelia Court House but after they reached Deatonville, all the men and wagons would have to use a single road to move directly to Rice's Station, increasing their vulnerability while on the march.[50] The only other route was the Jamestown Road which left Deatonville to the north and only reached Rice's Station over a roundabout loop.[51]
Longstreet's corps left Amelia Court House first and arrived at Rice's Station starting about sunrise.[39] Later in the morning, General Lee joined him.[39] They planned to wait at Rice's Station for the rest of the army to catch up and to guard the town's South Side Railroad station from attack by the Union XXIV which already had occupied Burkeville Junction.[39] At daybreak, Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry left Amelia Springs and marched to Rice's Station where they joined with Longstreet's command.[52]
Major General William Mahone's division, of the former Third Corps, now combined with Longstreet's First Corps, reached Deatonville before dawn on April 6.[53] Mahone's men marched toward Rice's Station over the right-hand fork at Deatonville.[53] They would move unhindered to Rice's Station but the following infantry corps would not.
Anderson's, Ewell's and Gordon's corps followed in line after Mahone's division.[47] Rooney Lee's cavalry division stayed behind when Fitzhugh Lee left with the other cavalry so that Rooney Lee's division could help Gordon's corps as a rear guard.[52] The last of Gordon's soldiers had not reached Amelia Springs when the leading men of Longstreet's corps reached Rice's Station.[54]
The wagon trains were on the right flank of the soldiers of Lee's army, heading for a crossing of Sailor's Creek at Perkinson's mill, near the Creek's confluence with the Appomattox River.[39] The troops planned to cross the river about 2 miles (3.2 km) higher up on the road to Rice's Station.[39] Ewell's corps did not leave Amelia Springs until 2:00 p.m. in order to guard the wagons but moved ahead of them and close up with Anderson's corps when they did move out.[51]
On the route of march about 1 mile (1.6 km) past Deatonville, the road to Rice's Station declined into a marsh in the area of Sandy Creek.[55] Holt's Corner, where some fighting took place, was two miles down the road.[notes 4][55] Another 1.25 miles (2.01 km) farther, past the Hillsman House, was Sailor's Creek.[55] On the opposite side of Sailor's Creek was a steep bluff.[55] About 0.5 miles (0.80 km) past the bluff was another junction near James N. Marshall's farm.[56] Deep ravines were cut into the terrain by both branches of Sailor's Creek.[56] General Humphreys described the country as "broken, consisting of woods with dense undergrowth and swamps, alternating with open fields."[57]
Sheridan did not send the cavalry with Meade's infantry because of his conviction that Lee must have been moving west to try to outrun the Union Army.[58] Sheridan directed his cavalry to follow a road parallel and to the south of Lee's line of march to try to intercept the Confederates.[47] Sheridan sent the cavalry west on the Deatonville-Rice's Station Road with Crook's division leading the advance and Merritt's two divisions under Devin and Custer following behind instead of sending them toward Amelia Court House with the infantry.[58]
Battle[edit]
As it developed, the Battle of Sailor's Creek was actually three principal engagements fought in close proximity mostly at about the same time. Major General Horatio Wright's VI Corps battled Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell's corps at the Hillsman House. Union cavalry led by Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Wesley Merritt fought Lieutenant General Richard Anderson's corps at Marshall's Crossroads. After a running battle over several miles, Major General Andrew A. Humphreys's II Corps engaged Major General John B. Gordon's corps at Lockett's Farm.[notes 5][59]
Humphreys v. Gordon: Battle of Lockett's Farm[edit]
On the rainy morning of April 6, Humphreys's corp initially moved toward the Confederate wagon train near Amelia Springs on the road to Amelia Court House. At Amelia Springs, Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Gershom Mott was wounded while reconnoitering with the skirmish line and was replaced as division commander by Brigadier General Philippe Régis de Trobriand.[47][60] Units of the II Corps moving toward Amelia Court House in accordance with Meade's order, which was in the opposite direction of the Confederate march, observed Lee's army moving west just before the rear guard passed out of sight.[60][61] At about the same time, Union signal officers discovered wagon trains and infantry moving toward Deatonville while Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Charles Griffin's V Corps, at Hill's Shop, also learned that Lee's force had left Amelia Court House.[57][notes 6] As the westward movement of the Confederate Army became apparent, the II Corps changed direction and gave pursuit.[61] Griffin's V Corps was sent on a wide swing to the north of the Confederate column through Paineville and was beyond the action on April 6.[62]
Reenactors engage in a recreation of the battle, 2013
Miles's division of Humphrey's corps brought some guns to the bank of Flat Creek, which ran from northeast to southwest across the line of march, and opened fire on the Confederate infantry, which was the rear of Gordon's corps, marching away toward the west.[63] A running battle began at about 9:00 a.m. a.m. between Miles's and De Trobriand's divisions of the II Corps and the much smaller divisions of Brigadier General James A. Walker's and Major General Bryan Grimes from Gordon's Second Corps, with Rooney Lee's cavalry occasionally holding the line for the infantry.[64]
Gordon's running battle with Humphreys's was stopped by the slow-moving wagon train at Deatonville, making it necessary for his corps to make a stand.[65] Crook had sent a cavalry brigade to help the II Corps fight Gordon at Deatonville, but Gordon's infantry and Rooney Lee's cavalry drove them off.[66]
Regis DeTrobriand's division met Confederate Brigadier General James A. Walker's division and after a brief artillery duel, watched the survivors run up hill and defend themselves from the crest.[65] Seven Union regiments charged Walker's position in an effort to silence his artillery, taking many casualties.[67] The 17th Maine Infantry Regiment under Major Charlie Mattocks led a charge against the 21st North Carolina Infantry Regiment, taking their flag and about 300 prisoners.[68] DeTrobriand's other regiments picked up another 100 prisoners, flags and wagons as they also took the hill and, when they did, they sent some shells in the direction of the retreating Confederates.[68] DeTrobriand's division occupied Deatonville, finding many arms and artillery pieces and much ammunition left behind by the Confederates.[68]
After Lieutenant General Ewell diverted the wagon trains to the Jamestown Road to the north, Major General Gordon's corps followed them, covering the wagons as the Union II Corps continued to pursue close behind.[69][70] After some fighting at the Holt's Corner junction of the two roads, Humphreys's and Gordon's corps continue to fight over another 3 miles (4.8 km).[70]
The double bridges over Little Sailor's Creek and Big Sailor's Creek just before they merged were broken down, stranding hundreds of wagons and blocking Gordon's line of march.[71] The II Corps came on quickly and after some resistance, Gordon's corps fell back.[71] Fighting stopped at dark and many of Gordon's men escaped, some reaching High Bridge with Gordon that night.[48] Gordon reported that his disorganized men marched the entire night and that "many through their guns away."[72]
Overall the II Corps captured 13 flags, 4 guns and 1,700 prisoners.[48] Humphreys wrote that his corps suffered 311 killed and wounded and that the Confederate losses probably exceeded his corps' loss.[48]
Crook, Merritt v. Anderson: Battle of Marshall's Crossroads[edit]
Major General George Crook's cavalry division initially moving on the Pride's Church Road, starting near Deatonville, began hit and run tactics against the Confederate wagon train and supporting infantry.[47][69] After Crook's detached brigade was driven away from the fight with Gordon's corps at Deatonville, they jumped ahead to Holt's Corner where Crook's lead brigade attacked Lieutenant General Richard Anderson's men, who were scattered by the surprise attack.[66] The troopers attacked the wagon train and burned a couple dozen wagons.[66] Anderson reorganized and threw back the Union attackers.[66] William Wallace's brigade of Bushrod Johnson's division, Anderson's corps, also dispersed the attack of another Union cavalry brigade.[66] Johnson's four remaining small brigades set up a line perpendicular to Pride's Church Road.[66] Crook ordered the brigades of both J. Irvin Gregg and Charles H. Smith back to the column since Sheridan had ordered Crook to continue west towards Marshall's Crossroads with the rest of the cavalry.[73]
A gap had opened in the line of march because Crook's cavalry had attacked and delayed Anderson's corps as they were protecting the wagons at Holt's Corner.[74] After Crook's cavalry were driven off, Anderson crossed Little Sailor's Creek and reached Marshall's Crossroad, where he found that Union cavalry had found the gap in the line and blocked his way to Rice's Depot.[74]
From his position on the right flank, Custer's division crossed Little Sailor's Creek at Gill Mill and noticed the gap between Mahone and Anderson about 1 mile (1.6 km) away at Marshall's Crossroad and blocked the road there while Crook's troopers were attacking the rear of Anderson's column.[73][74] In this space were slowly-moving artillery pieces.[73] Custer's men charged the artillery, capturing ten pieces before being driven off by Anderson's infantry.[73] Other Union cavalry came up to harass Anderson's line.[73] Anderson's men counterattacked but then held up.[75] A Virginia soldier late said that a large number of Union troopers then moved ahead of them while they were digging in instead of moving on.[76]
Anderson then turned to cross Little Sailor's Creek when Gordon's corps came up to Holt's Corner.[69] Johnson's and Pickett's divisions set up breastworks across the road as Ewell's corps also crossed to set up a defensive line.[69] Anderson's position was almost 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Ewell's position on a ridge across Sailor's Creek.[76]
The Union cavalry charged Anderson's infantry several times.[71] Finally, Colonel Henry Capehart's brigade of Custer's division delivered a fierce blow to the Confederate line, followed by the attack of other brigades, including a charge by Brigadier General Henry E. Davies, Jr., which was praised by General Crook and which caused the entire line to collapse and the survivors to flee.[77]
Wright v. Ewell: Battle of Hillsman's House[edit]
The Hillsman House and grounds, as they existed in 2012
Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had discovered the Union cavalry force blocking Anderson's corps and advised Lieutenant General Richard Ewell of the obstruction on the road ahead.[74] Ewell directed that the trailing wagon train head north on the Jamestown Road at Holt's Corner to avoid the Union force on the Deatonville-Rice's Station Road.[74] Ewell's corps then closed about a 1 mile (1.6 km) gap with Anderson's corps and helped Anderson with the repulse of Crook's second attack on Anderson.[69]
After Anderson crossed Little Sailor's Creek and passed over the crest of the hill, Ewell moved his force to higher ground on the other side of the creek, leaving men from Colonel William H. Fitzgerald's brigade and the 24th Virginia Cavalry Regiment as a rear guard at the Hillsman farm.[69][78] Ewell and Anderson met to confer about whether to attack the cavalry force in their front or head through the woods toward Farmville.[78] Before they could finish their discussion, Major General Horatio G. Wright's VI Corps appeared in Ewell's rear, forcing Anderson's corps to face the Union cavalry moving up from the south at Marshall's Crossroads, while Ewell's corps had to confront the Union infantry at Hillsman's House. The two corps fought almost back-to-back against the encircling Union forces.[78]
As the VI Corps closed up on Ewell's corps, Ewell deployed Major General Joseph B. Kershaw's Division on the right, Custis Lee's division on the left and the naval battalion under Commander John R. Tucker in the middle.[70] Wright's corps came up at about 4:30 p.m. and saw Ewell's force forming a line of battle on the north side of Sailor's Creek.[69] Brigades from the VI Corps divisions of Brigadier General Truman Seymour and Brigadier General (Brevet Major General) Frank Wheaton formed up against them.[76] Major General Sheridan was on the scene and a soldier nearby said it was evident that Sheridan's object was to surround Ewell's Confederates.[76]
The VI Corps attacked Ewell's line at about 6:00 p.m. after an artillery bombardment during which Ewell's men hastily built modest fortifications.[76] Many Union soldiers were shot down crossing Sailor's Creek which was more like a swamp as much as 100 yards (91 m) wide in some places.[77] Wheaton's men reorganized under the crest of a hill and resumed their movement up the hill.[77] The rapidly moving middle of the line was driven back under intense fire and a Confederate counterattack.[77] Since the Confederate line was shorter than the Union line, however, this led the Confederate attackers into a double envelopment.[79] The twenty guns of Union artillery under Brevet Major Andrew Cowan deployed at the Hillsman Farm played a key role in their repulse.[79] Fierce hand-to-hand combat took place before the Confederates finally saw that they were surrounded and gave up.[79] The naval battalion under Commander Tucker was among the last of the surrounded Confederates to surrender.[79] Prematurely, Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) J. Warren Keifer rode forward to accepte the naval battalion's surrender only to have several sailors aim their muskets at him.[79] Only through the intervention of Commander Tucker was Colonel Keifer spared and able to accept the actual surrender a short time later.[79]
General Humphreys wrote that Ewell's entire command was killed wounded or captured except about 250 men of Kershaw's division who escaped.[80]
Casualties[edit]
General Humphreys reported 311 casualties in his corps and 442 in Wright's corps but he had no way to state the number of casualties suffered by the Union cavalry.[3] Historian Noah Andre Trudeau states that the total Union loss was 1,180 killed and wounded.[81]
Humphreys stated that the total Confederate loss in killed, wounded and captured was "not less than 8,000."[3] Trudeau agreed with this number.[82] He noted that despite the efforts of Anderson, Ewell and Gordon, the greater part of the wagon trains was destroyed.[83] Humphreys wrote: "Ewell's whole force was lost, together with nearly half of Anderson's and a large part of Gordon's, all in a useless effort to save the trains."[83]
Ewell's corps is captured
At Sailor's Creek, about one fifth of the remaining retreating Confederate army was taken prisoner or became casualties. Many Confederate officers were captured, including generals Ewell, Kershaw, Custis Lee, Seth M. Barton, James P. Simms, Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr., Dudley M. Du Bose, Eppa Hunton, and Montgomery D. Corse.[notes 7][3] Colonel Stapleton Crutchfield was killed leading a detachment of artillery personnel who had participated in the defenses of Richmond. General Humphreys also stated that disorder of the Confederates after their defeats at Five Forks, Sutherland's Station and the Breakthrough "doubtless scattered them to such an extent that many being without rations did not rejoin their commands."[3] He went on to say that: "In the movement to Amelia Court House, and from that point to sailor's Creek, Farmville and Appomattox Court House, having but scanty supplies and being exhausted by want of sleep and food and overcome with fatigue, many men fell out or wandered in search of food."[3]
Aftermath[edit]
A monument at the site of the battle, dedicated in 2010
When a large part of the Confederate Army did not report to Rice's Station and Lee began to get reports of the defeat unfolding at Sailor's Creek, he returned to a bluff above the battlefield with Mahone's division.[84]
Upon seeing the survivors streaming along the road, Lee exclaimed in front of Major General William Mahone, "My God, has the army dissolved?" to which General Mahone replied, "No, General, here are troops ready to do their duty." Touched by the faithful duty of his men, Lee told Mahone, "Yes, there are still some true men left ... Will you please keep those people back?"[84][85]
Mahone's division remained on the opposite bank covering the escape of the fugitives but was not engaged in more combat.[84]
Naming the battle[edit]
The current official name for the tributary of the Appomattox River is Sayler's Creek, as established in 1959 by the United States Board on Geographic Names; this spelling is used on topographic maps issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.[86] Many prominent Civil War historians (James M. McPherson, Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton, Douglas Southall Freeman, etc.) have used this spelling. Chris M. Calkins of the National Park Service used this spelling in his 1980 work, Thirty-Six Hours before Appomattox, and also in the nomination he wrote to preserve the battlefield in the National Register of Historic Places inventory.[87] However, Calkins noted in his 1997 work, The Appomattox Campaign, that at the time of the Civil War and previously, maps used the spelling Sailors. These include the 1752 Joshua Fry–Peter Jefferson map of Virginia and the 1867 Michler survey maps of 1867 (included in the Official Records Atlas). He therefore judges that the correct name for the Civil War battle should be Sailor's Creek.[86] The American Battlefield Protection Program (National Park Service Civil War Sites Advisory Commission),[88] the Civil War Trust,[89] and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation[90] use the spelling "Sailor's Creek". The Battle is also known variously as Little Sailor's Creek, Harper's Farm, Marshall's Cross Roads, Hillsman Farm, Double Bridges, or Lockett's Farm.
The Sayler's Creek Battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.[91]
See also[edit]
Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park
Sayler's Creek Battlefield
Footnotes[edit]
Jump up ^ Salmon, 2001, p. 479. The estimate is based on 7,000 infantry present from the VI Corps divisions of Frank Wheaton and Truman Seymour; George W. Getty's division was not on the field during the VI Corps fight against Richard S. Ewell, Calkins, 1997, p. 108. Wesley Merritt had 8,000–9,000 cavalrymen in three divisions against Richard H. Anderson. The two divisions of Philippe Régis de Trobriand and Nelson A. Miles fought the main action against John B. Gordon. Salmon did not give a figure for the II Corps in the action against Gordon. According to Humphreys, 1883, p. 381, Francis Barlow's division (taking over from William Hays) was not engaged due to the receipt of erroneous information. Marvel, 2002, p. 83 refers to upwards of 10,000 Union infantry (Humphreys's men, before Wright's men arrived). The CWSAC Report update cites Union strength at 36,500. To get to that number, the men of Getty's division (not engaged) and Barlow's division (not on the field) would need to be included.
Jump up ^ Salmon, p. 480. The estimate is based on 5,200 men in the corps of Richard S. Ewell, 6,300 under Richard H. Anderson, and 7,000 under John B. Gordon. The CWSAC Report update states Confederate strength at 16,900 men.
Jump up ^ Calkins, p. 88 gives the Union casualties as 30 killed and 150 wounded but gives the lower number in the text in his appendix on page 202.
Jump up ^ This was some times referred to as Hott's Corner but it was named after a local resident named John Holt. Trudeau, 1994, p. 107.
Jump up ^ General Humphreys titled a subsection in his book: The Battles of Sailor's Creek. Humphreys, 1883, p. 381.
Jump up ^ Meade had been wrong in expecting Lee to still be at Amelia Court House. Sheridan had been correct that Lee would be on the move.
Jump up ^ Confederate Colonel (Brigadier General) Theodore W. Brevard, Jr. also was captured. He was the last general appointed by Jefferson Davis. His March 28 commission may not have reached him at the time of the battle so even Brevard himself may not have known he was a general. Marvel, 2002, p. 92.
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ National Park Service.
^ Jump up to: a b Salmon, 2001, p. 480.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Humphreys, Andrew A. The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865: The Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James. New York: Charles Scribners' Sons, 1883. OCLC 38203003. Retrieved March 5, 2015. p. 384.
Jump up ^ Bearss, Edwin C., with Bryce A. Suderow. The Petersburg Campaign. Vol. 2, The Western Front Battles, September 1864 – April 1865. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie, 2014. ISBN 978-1-61121-104-7.
Jump up ^ Greene, A. Wilson. The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-57233-610-0.
Jump up ^ Hess, Earl J. In the Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications & Confederate Defeat. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8078-3282-0.
Jump up ^ Horn, John. The Petersburg Campaign: June 1864-April 1865. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Publishing, 1999. ISBN 978-0-938289-28-9. p. 220. Retrieved February 11, 2015. – via Questia (subscription required)
Jump up ^ Humphreys, Andrew A. The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865: The Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James. New York: Charles Scribners' Sons, 1883. OCLC 38203003. Retrieved March 5, 2015. p. 374.
^ Jump up to: a b Longacre, 2002, p. 330.
Jump up ^ Eicher, David J. The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 978-0-684-84944-7. p. 813
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, 1997, p. 69.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, p. 67.
Jump up ^ Marvel, p. 44.
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, 1997, p. 75.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Calkins, 1997, p. 77.
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, 1997, p. 78.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, p. 45.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Marvel, 2002, p. 47.
^ Jump up to: a b c Calkins, 1997, p. 76.
Jump up ^ Long, E. B. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861–1865. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1971. OCLC 68283123. p. 666.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, pp. 76–77.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 48.
Jump up ^ Starr, Steven. The Union Cavalry in the Civil War: The War in the East from Gettysburg to Appomattox, 1863–1865. Volume 2. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2007. Originally published 1981. ISBN 9780807132920. p. 462.
Jump up ^ Humphreys, 1883, p. 375.
^ Jump up to: a b c Marvel, 2002, p. 49.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Marvel, 2002, p. 50.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 51.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, p. 52.
Jump up ^ Trudeau, Noah Andre. "Out of the Storm: The End of the Civil War, April–June 1865. Boston, New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1994. ISBN 978-0-316-85328-6. p. 92.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Marvel, 2002, p. 55.
Jump up ^ Foote, 1974, p. 911.
Jump up ^ Kinzer, Charles E. "Amelia Court House/Jetersville (3–5 April 1865)." In Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. ISBN 978-0-393-04758-5. pp. 36-37.
Jump up ^ Davis, Burke. To Appomattox: Nine April Days, 1865. New York: Eastern Acorn Press reprint, 1981. ISBN 978-0-915992-17-1. First published New York: Rinehart, 1959. p. 190.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, pp. 50–51.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Humphreys, 1883, p. 376.
^ Jump up to: a b c Marvel, 2002, p. 56.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, pp. 56–57.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 57.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Humphreys, 1883, p. 377.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 58.
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, 1997, p. 87.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, pp. 88–89.
Jump up ^ Longacre, 2003, pp. 126–127.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Calkins, 1997, p. 91.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, p. 92.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Calkins, 1997, p. 93.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Calkins, 1997, p. 99.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Humphreys, 1883, p. 381.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, p. 64.
Jump up ^ Trudeau, 1994, p. 102.
^ Jump up to: a b Trudeau, 1994, p. 107.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 65.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 69.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, p. 71.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Marvel, 2002, p. 67.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 68.
^ Jump up to: a b Humphreys, 1883, p. 379.
^ Jump up to: a b Longacre, 2003, p. 145.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, p. 114.
^ Jump up to: a b Salmon, John S., The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide, Stackpole Books, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8117-2868-3. p. 476.
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, 1997, p. 97.
Jump up ^ Calkins, 1997, p. 100.
Jump up ^ Humphreys, 1883, p. 378.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, pp. 72–73.
^ Jump up to: a b Marvel, 2002, p. 73.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Marvel, 2002, p. 78.
Jump up ^ Marvel, 2002, pp. 73–74.
^ Jump up to: a b c Marvel, 2002, p. 74.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Humphreys, 1883, p. 380.
^ Jump up to: a b c Trudeau, 1994, p. 108.
^ Jump up to: a b c Trudeau, 1994, p. 110.
Jump up ^ Trudeau, 1994, p. 113.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Longacre, 2003, p. 148.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Calkins, 1997, p. 105.
Jump up ^ Longacre, 2003, p. 149.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Trudeau, 1994, p. 109.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Trudeau, 1994, p. 111.
^ Jump up to: a b c Calkins, 1997, p. 107.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Trudeau, 1994, p. 112.
Jump up ^ Humphreys, 1883, p. 383.
Jump up ^ Trudeau, 1994, p. 116.
Jump up ^ Trudeau, 1994, p. 115.
^ Jump up to: a b Humphreys, 1883, p. 385.
^ Jump up to: a b c Trudeau, 1994, p. 114.
Jump up ^ Freeman, vol. 3., p. 711.
^ Jump up to: a b Calkins, The Appomattox Campaign, p. 118.
Jump up ^ National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form
Jump up ^ CWSAC Report Update
Jump up ^ Battle of Sailor's Creek
Jump up ^ Sailor's Creek State Park
Jump up ^ National Historic Landmarks Program website, accessed September 10, 2013.
References[edit]
Bearss, Edwin C., with Bryce A. Suderow. The Petersburg Campaign. Vol. 2, The Western Front Battles, September 1864 – April 1865. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie, 2014. ISBN 978-1-61121-104-7.
Calkins, Chris. The Appomattox Campaign, March 29 – April 9, 1865. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books, 1997. ISBN 978-0-938-28954-8.
Calkins, Chris M. Thirty-Six Hours Before Appomattox: April 6 and 7, 1865: The Battles of Sayler's Creek, High Bridge, Farmville and Cumberland Church. Farmville, VA: Farmville Herald, 1980. OCLC 7216968.
Davis, Burke. To Appomattox: Nine April Days, 1865. New York: Eastern Acorn Press reprint, 1981. ISBN 978-0-915992-17-1. First published New York: Rinehart, 1959.
Eicher, David J. The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 978-0-684-84944-7.
Freeman, Douglas S. Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command. 3 vols. New York: Scribner, 1946. ISBN 0-684-85979-3.
Greene, A. Wilson. The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-57233-610-0.
Hess, Earl J. In the Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications & Confederate Defeat. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8078-3282-0.
Horn, John. The Petersburg Campaign: June 1864-April 1865. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Publishing, 1999. ISBN 978-0-938289-28-9. p. 220. Retrieved February 11, 2015. – via Questia (subscription required)
Humphreys, Andrew A., The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865: The Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James. New York: Charles Scribners' Sons, 1883. OCLC 38203003. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
Long, E. B. The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861–1865. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1971. OCLC 68283123.
Longacre, Edward G. The Cavalry at Appomattox: A Tactical Study of Mounted Operations During the Civil War's Climactic Campaign, March 27 – April 9, 1865. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2003. ISBN 978-0-8117-0051-1.
Longacre, Edward G. Lee's Cavalrymen: A History of the Mounted Forces of the Army of Northern Virginia. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002. ISBN 978-0-8117-0898-2.
Marvel, William. Lee's Last Retreat: The Flight to Appomattox. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002. ISBN 978-0-8078-5703-8.
Salmon, John S., The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide, Stackpole Books, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8117-2868-3.
Trudeau, Noah Andre. The Last Citadel: Petersburg, Virginia, June 1864–April 1865. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1991. ISBN 978-0-8071-1861-0.
Trudeau, Noah Andre. "Out of the Storm: The End of the Civil War, April–June 1865. Boston, New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1994. ISBN 978-0-316-85328-6.
Weigley, Russell F. A Great Civil War: A Military and Political History, 1861–1865. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-253-33738-2.
External links[edit]
National Park Service battle description
CWSAC Report Update
Animated history of the Siege of Petersburg and Surrender at Appomattox
Battle of Sailor's Creek: Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news (Civil War Trust)
[hide]
v
t
e
American Civil War
[show]
Origins
Origins
Issues
Timeline leading to the War
Antebellum era
Bleeding Kansas
Border states
Compromise of 1850
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Lincoln-Douglas debates
Missouri Compromise
Popular sovereignty
Secession
States' rights
President Lincoln's 75,000 volunteers
Slavery
African Americans
Cornerstone Speech
Emancipation Proclamation
Fugitive slave laws
Plantations in the American South
Slave Power
Slavery in the United States
Treatment of slaves in the United States
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Abolitionism
Susan B. Anthony
John Brown
Frederick Douglass
William Lloyd Garrison
Elijah Parish Lovejoy
J. Sella Martin
Lysander Spooner
George Luther Stearns
Thaddeus Stevens
Charles Sumner
Harriet Tubman
Underground Railroad
[show]
Combatants
Theaters
Campaigns
Battles
States
Combatants
Union (USA)
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Revenue Cutter Service
Confederacy (CSA)
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Theaters
Eastern
Western
Lower Seaboard
Trans-Mississippi
Pacific Coast
Union naval blockade
Major Campaigns
Anaconda Plan
Blockade runners
New Mexico
Jackson's Valley
Peninsula
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Stones River
Vicksburg
Tullahoma
Gettysburg
Morgan's Raid
Bristoe
Knoxville
Red River
Overland
Atlanta
Valley 1864
Bermuda Hundred
Richmond-Petersburg
Franklin–Nashville
Price's Raid
Sherman's March
Carolinas
Appomattox
Major battles
Fort Sumter
1st Bull Run
Wilson's Creek
Fort Donelson
Pea Ridge
Hampton Roads
Shiloh
New Orleans
Corinth
Seven Pines
Seven Days
2nd Bull Run
Antietam
Perryville
Fredericksburg
Stones River
Chancellorsville
Gettysburg
Vicksburg
Chickamauga
Chattanooga
Wilderness
Spotsylvania
Cold Harbor
Atlanta
Mobile Bay
Franklin
Nashville
Five Forks
Involvement (by
state or territory)
AL
AK
AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DC
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
[show]
Leaders
Confederate
Military
R. H. Anderson
Beauregard
Bragg
Buchanan
Cooper
Early
Ewell
Forrest
Gorgas
Hill
Hood
Jackson
A. S. Johnston
J. E. Johnston
Lee
Longstreet
Morgan
Mosby
Price
Semmes
E. K. Smith
Stuart
Taylor
Wheeler
Civilian
Benjamin
Bocock
Breckinridge
Davis
Hunter
Mallory
Memminger
Seddon
Stephens
Union
Military
Anderson
Buell
Burnside
Butler
Du Pont
Farragut
Foote
Frémont
Grant
Halleck
Hooker
Hunt
McClellan
McDowell
Meade
Meigs
Ord
Pope
D. D. Porter
Rosecrans
Scott
Sheridan
Sherman
Thomas
Civilian
Adams
Chase
Ericsson
Hamlin
Lincoln
Pinkerton
Seward
Stanton
Stevens
Wade
Welles
[show]
Aftermath
U.S. Constitution
Reconstruction amendments
13th Amendment
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
Reconstruction
Alabama Claims
Brooks–Baxter War
Carpetbaggers
Colfax Riot of 1873
Eufaula Riot of 1874
Freedmen's Bureau
Freedman's Savings Bank
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Kirk-Holden War
Knights of the White Camelia
Ku Klux Klan
Memphis Riot of 1866
Meridian Riot of 1871
New Orleans Riot of 1866
Pulaski (Tennessee) Riot of 1867
Reconstruction acts
Habeas Corpus Act 1867
Enforcement Act of 1870
Enforcement Act of February 1871
Enforcement Act of April 1871
Reconstruction treaties
Indian Council at Fort Smith
Red Shirts
Redeemers
Confederate refugees
Confederados
Scalawags
South Carolina riots of 1876
Southern Claims Commission
Homestead acts
Southern Homestead Act of 1866
Timber Culture Act of 1873
White League
post-Reconstruction
Commemoration
Centennial
Civil War Discovery Trail
Civil War Roundtables
Civil War Trails Program
Civil War Trust
Confederate History Month
Confederate monuments and memorials
Historical reenactment
Robert E. Lee Day
Disenfranchisement
Black Codes
Jim Crow
Lost Cause mythology
Modern display of the Confederate flag
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Southern Historical Society
United Daughters of the Confederacy
Monuments and memorials
Union
List of Union Civil War monuments and memorials
List of memorials to the Grand Army of the Republic
Memorials to Abraham Lincoln
Confederate
List of Confederate monuments and memorials
Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials
List of memorials to Robert E. Lee
List of memorials to Jefferson Davis
Annapolis
Roger B. Taney Monument
Baltimore
Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Confederate Women's Monument
Roger B. Taney Monument
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson Monument
Durham, North Carolina
Robert E. Lee Monument
New Orleans
Battle of Liberty Place Monument
Jefferson Davis Monument
General Beauregard Equestrian Statue
Robert E. Lee Monument
Cemeteries
Confederate Memorial Day
Ladies' memorial associations
U.S. Memorial Day
U.S. national cemeteries
Veterans
1913 Gettysburg Reunion
Confederate Veteran
Grand Army of the Republic
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S.
Old soldiers' homes
Southern Cross of Honor
United Confederate Veterans
[show]
Related topics
Related topics
Military
Arms
Campaign Medal
Cavalry
Confederate Home Guard
Confederate railroads
Confederate Revolving Cannon
Field artillery
Medal of Honor recipients
Medicine
Leadership
Naval battles
Official Records
Partisan rangers
POW camps
Rations
Signal Corps
Turning point
Union corps badges
U.S. Balloon Corps
U.S. Home Guard
U.S. Military Railroad
Political
Committee on the Conduct of the War
Confederate States Presidential Election of 1861
Confiscation Act of 1861
Confiscation Act of 1862
Copperheads
Emancipation Proclamation
Habeas Corpus Act of 1863
Hampton Roads Conference
National Union Party
Radical Republicans
Trent Affair
Union leagues
U.S. Presidential Election of 1864
War Democrats
Other topics
Bibliography
Confederate war finance
Confederate States dollar
Espionage
Confederate Secret Service
Great Revival of 1863
Music
Naming the war
Native Americans
Cherokee
Choctaw
New York City Gold Hoax of 1864
New York City Riot of 1863
Photographers
Richmond Riot of 1863
Sexuality
Supreme Court cases
Tokens
U.S. Sanitary Commission
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Sailor%27s_Creek&oldid=802346948"
Categories:
Appomattox Campaign
Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
Union victories of the American Civil War
Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia
Amelia County, Virginia
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Nottoway County, Virginia
Confederate States Marine Corps
1865 in the American Civil War
1865 in Virginia
April 1865 events
Hidden categories:
Subscription required using via
Pages containing links to subscription-only content
Coordinates on Wikidata
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
Languages
Deutsch
Français
Nederlands
日本語
Português
Русский
Edit links
This page was last edited on 25 September 2017, at 16:03.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

key: html

type: local

value: div

attrs: id class

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: a

attrs: id class lang

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

values: jump-to-nav mw-jump

value: th

attrs: class colspan style

value: tr

attrs: href title

value: td

attrs: colspan style

value: img

attrs: alt src width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: SC - Confederate Overlook (5224666640).jpg

attrs: href class

values: Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location

attrs: alt src width height class srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: Template talk:Campaignbox Appomattox Campaign

values: nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner

values:
/wiki/General_(CSA)
mw-redirect
General (CSA)

values:
/wiki/Lieutenant_General_(CSA)
mw-redirect
Lieutenant General (CSA)

values:
/wiki/Captain_(U.S._Army)
mw-redirect
Captain (U.S. Army)

values:
/wiki/Brigadier_General_(United_States)
mw-redirect
Brigadier General (United States)

values: Eastern Theater of the American Civil War

values: North Carolina in the American Civil War

values:
/wiki/Brigadier_General_(CSA)
mw-redirect
Brigadier General (CSA)

values:
/wiki/Major_General_(CSA)
mw-redirect
Major General (CSA)

values: Edit section: March toward Amelia Court House

values:
/wiki/Amelia_Court_House,_Virginia
mw-redirect
Amelia Court House, Virginia

values:
/wiki/Ranald_Mackenzie
mw-redirect
Ranald Mackenzie

values:
/wiki/Ordnance_ammunition
mw-redirect
Ordnance ammunition

values: Edit section: Paineville, Amelia Springs

values:
/wiki/Martin_Gary
mw-redirect
Martin Gary

values: Charles Henry Smith (Medal of Honor) (page does not exist)

values: Appomattox Campaign Union order of battle

values: Appomattox Campaign Confederate order of battle

values: Edit section: Humphreys v. Gordon: Battle of Lockett's Farm

values: Edit section: Crook, Merritt v. Anderson: Battle of Marshall's Crossroads

values: Edit section: Wright v. Ewell: Battle of Hillsman's House

values:
/wiki/Andrew_Cowan_(artillerist)
mw-redirect
Andrew Cowan (artillerist)

values:
/wiki/Seth_M._Barton
mw-redirect
Seth M. Barton

values:
/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis_Clark,_Sr.
mw-redirect
Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr.

values:
/wiki/Dudley_M._Du_Bose
mw-redirect
Dudley M. Du Bose

values:
/wiki/Montgomery_D._Corse
mw-redirect
Montgomery D. Corse

values:
/wiki/U.S._Geological_Survey
mw-redirect
U.S. Geological Survey

values: Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park

values:
/wiki/John_B._Gordon
mw-redirect
John B. Gordon

values:
/wiki/Theodore_W._Brevard,_Jr.
mw-redirect
Theodore W. Brevard, Jr.

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values:
nofollow
external text
https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38203003

values: font-size:0.95em; font-size: 90%; color: #555

values:
nofollow
external text
https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/68283123

values:
nofollow
external text
https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7216968

values:
/wiki/Douglas_S._Freeman
mw-redirect
Douglas S. Freeman

values: Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War

values: History of the United States (1789–1849)

values:
/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debates
mw-redirect
Lincoln-Douglas debates

values: Popular sovereignty in the United States

values: Military history of African Americans in the American Civil War

values: Treatment of slaves in the United States

values: nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup

values: Western Theater of the American Civil War

values: Lower Seaboard Theater of the American Civil War

values: Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War

values: Pacific Coast Theater of the American Civil War

values: Blockade runners of the American Civil War

values: Territory of Arizona (Confederate States)

values: Washington, D.C., in the American Civil War

values: New Mexico Territory in the American Civil War

values: Indian Territory in the American Civil War

values: South Carolina in the American Civil War

values:
/wiki/Benjamin_Butler_(politician)
mw-redirect
Benjamin Butler (politician)

values: Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

values: Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

values: Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

values: South Carolina civil disturbances of 1876

values: List of Confederate monuments and memorials

values: Disenfranchisement after the Reconstruction Era

values: List of Union Civil War monuments and memorials

values: Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials

values: Roger B. Taney Monument (Annapolis, Maryland)

values: Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument

values: Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee Monument

values: Robert E. Lee Monument (Durham, North Carolina)

values: Robert E. Lee Monument (New Orleans, Louisiana)

values: Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

values:
Related_topics
font-size:114%;margin:0 4em
hlist hlist-separated

values: List of weapons in the American Civil War

values: Confederate railroads in the American Civil War

values: Field artillery in the American Civil War

values: List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients

values: Military leadership in the American Civil War

values: Official Records of the American Civil War

values: United States Congress Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War

values: Confederate States presidential election, 1861

values: United States presidential election, 1864

values:
/wiki/War_Democrats
mw-redirect
War Democrats

values: Native Americans in the American Civil War

values: Supreme Court cases of the American Civil War

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible expanded navbox-inner

values: Category:Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War

values: Category:Union victories of the American Civil War

values: Category:Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia

values: Category:Confederate States Marine Corps

values: Category:Subscription required using via

values: Category:Pages containing links to subscription-only content

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Battle_of_Sailor%27s_Creek
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values: Past revisions of this page [ctrl-alt-h]

values: p-views navigation vectorTabs p-views-label

values:
p-cactions
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-cactions-label

values:
mw-wiki-logo
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page

values:
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page [ctrl-alt-z]
z

values: Featured content – the best of Wikipedia

values: Find background information on current events

values:
/wiki/Special:Random
Load a random article [ctrl-alt-x]
x

values: portal navigation p-navigation p-navigation-label

values: Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia

values: About the project, what you can do, where to find things

values: A list of recent changes in the wiki [ctrl-alt-r]

values: portal navigation p-interaction p-interaction-label

values: List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [ctrl-alt-j]

values: Recent changes in pages linked from this page [ctrl-alt-k]

values:
/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard
Upload files [ctrl-alt-u]
u

values:
uls-settings-trigger
Language settings
0
button
true

values: セイラーズクリークの戦い – Japanese

values: Сражение при Сайлерс-Крик – Russian

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Battle_of_Sailor_s_Creek rootpage-Battle_of_Sailor_s_Creek vector-experimental-print-styles vector-nav-directionality skin-vector action-view


text:
Star Wars Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
"May the 4th" redirects here. For general information on this date, see May 4.
Star Wars Day
Fan-made animated logo, dedicated to Star Wars Day
Observed by
Star Wars fans
Type
Secular
Significance
Celebrating Star Wars
Date
May 4
Frequency
Annual
First time
2011
Related to
Geek Pride Day
Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates George Lucas' Star Wars. It is observed by fans of the media franchise. Observance of the commemorative day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations.[1][2]
The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase "May the Force be with you" as "May the Fourth be with you". Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world have chosen to celebrate the holiday.[3] It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm as an annual celebration of Star Wars.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Revenge of the Fifth
3 May 25
4 References
5 Other reading
6 External links
History[edit]
Apocryphally, the reference was first used on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. An online news article from the Danish public broadcaster says her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in The London Evening News, saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations."[4]
The saying was used in a UK Parliament defence debate on May 4, 1994.[5]
Astrophysicist and author Jeanne Cavelos used the saying on page 94 of her 1999 book The Science of Star Wars.[6]
In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared, celebrating Luke Skywalker Day, with the same catchphrase.[7] While the initial group never received widespread acclaim, the phenomenon spread to college campuses a few years later, and Star Wars Day was born.
In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Produced by Sean Ward and Alice Quinn, festivities included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show; a costume contest with celebrity judges; and the web's best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes on the big screen. The second annual edition took place on Friday, May 4, 2012.[8][9][10]
Fans (even government officials[11]) have celebrated Star Wars in a variety of ways in social media and on television.
Since 2013, The Walt Disney Company has officially observed the holiday with several Star Wars events and festivities at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.[12][13] Disney had purchased Lucasfilm including the rights to Star Wars in late 2012.[14]
Minor League baseball teams such as the Toledo Mud Hens[15] and the Durham Bulls[16] have worn special uniforms as part of Star Wars Day promotions.
On Star Wars Day 2015, astronauts in the International Space Station watched Star Wars.[17]
Revenge of the Fifth[edit]
Some recognize the following day, May 5, as "Revenge of the Fifth", a play on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and celebrate the Sith Lords and other villainous characters from the Star Wars series rather than the Jedi.[18]
Others celebrate this one day later, on May 6, citing "Revenge of the Sixth" as a better play on "Sith".[19][20][21]
May 25[edit]
The Los Angeles City Council declared May 25, 2007, as Star Wars Day, in honor of the 30th anniversary release date of Star Wars.[22] A separate initiative for observing Geek Pride Day on May 25 is based on the Star Wars connection along with ties to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Towel Day) and Discworld.[23][24]
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Painter, Alicia Gray (May 4, 2009). "May the Fourth Be With You". NBCUniversalMedia, LLC. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Star Wars day: May the 4th be with you". My Fox Chattanooga. May 4, 2010. Archived from the original on May 8, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
Jump up ^ "Star Wars Day: May the 4th". Starwars.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Danish National Radio on-line news".
Jump up ^ "Hansard, Column 786". UK Parliament Hansard, Column 784. May 4, 1994.
Jump up ^ * Jeanne Cavelos (May 5, 2000). "The science of Star Wars". ISBN 978-0312263874.
Jump up ^ * Dylan Bates (April 30, 2008). "Luke Skywalker Day: May the Fourth". Facebook. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
Jump up ^ Evan Annett (May 4, 2015). "Star Wars Day: What's going on today in a galaxy not so far, far away". The Globe and Mail.
Jump up ^ "May the Fourth Be With You". Global News.
Jump up ^ "It's Star Wars Day! May the 4th Be With You". O.canada.com.
Jump up ^ "Boris Johnson's acceptance speech in full". ITV News. May 5, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
Jump up ^ "May the 4th Be with You!". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
Jump up ^ "May the Fourth Be With You! Two New Star Wars-Themed Character Dining Experiences May 4 – June 15 at Disney's Hollywood Studios". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
Jump up ^ "How Disney Bought Lucasfilm—and Its Plans for Star Wars". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Toledo Mud Hens will wear Chewbacca uniforms for 'Star Wars' weekend". New York Daily News. April 28, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
Jump up ^ Andrew Kenney (March 25, 2014). "Durham Bulls to dress as R2-D2 from 'Star Wars' on May 4". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
Jump up ^ Jeffrey Kluger (May 5, 2015). "A Week on the Space Station: Tacos, 'Star Wars' and Mice". TIME.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
Jump up ^ Cady Zalben (May 4, 2017). "A Brief History of 'cady Wars' Celebration May The Fourth". MTV News.
Jump up ^ Levine, Daniel S. (May 6, 2017). "Revenge of the Sixth 2017: See the Best Funny Sith Memes". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Brainiac wants to get nerdy with you for 'Star Wars' and free comic books – Orange County Register". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
Jump up ^ "'A New Hope.' Jon Ossoff backers embrace 'Star Wars' attack ad - Political Insider blog". Retrieved May 6, 2017.
Jump up ^ Jan Perry (May 1, 2007). "Resolution: Star Wars". Los Angeles City Council.
Jump up ^ Lauren Orsini (May 23, 2013). "Geek Pride Day Is May 25: Here's How To Celebrate". Say Media, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Geek Pride Day". ThinkGeek, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
Other reading[edit]
"Star Wars Day: What to do on May 4 (and why)". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
External links[edit]
Official website
hide
v
t
e
Star Wars
Feature
films
Saga
Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
Revenge of the Sith
The Force Awakens
accolades
box office records
The Last Jedi
Anthology
Rogue One
Solo
Other
The Clone Wars
Television
Series
Droids
Ewoks
Clone Wars
The Clone Wars
cast
episodes
Rebels
characters
episodes
Forces of Destiny
Resistance
Detours (unaired)
Films
Holiday Special
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Production
George Lucas
Lucasfilm
Cast
Characters
Changes in film re-releases
Han shot first
Filming locations
Opening crawl
Sequel trilogy
Sources and analogues
Music
Soundtracks
Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Ewoks
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The Clone Wars
The Force Awakens
Rogue One
The Last Jedi
Solo
Themes
"Star Wars (Main Title)"
"The Imperial March"
"Ewok Celebration"
"Duel of the Fates"
"Battle of the Heroes"
Outside
media
Attractions
A Galactic Spectacular
Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
Star Tours
The Adventures Continue
Galaxy's Edge
Star Wars Hotel
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Star Wars Launch Bay
Star Wars Weekends
Where Science Meets Imagination
Lego
List of sets
Droid Tales
The Resistance Rises
The Freemaker Adventures
Merchandise
Action figures
Kenner
list
Hasbro
Vintage Collection
Star Wars Transformers
Games
Star Wars Pez
Manga
Force Trainer
Shepperton Design Studios
Trading cards
Vinylmation
Star Wars Rollinz toys
Television
specials
The Making of Star Wars
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
Other
Radio dramatizations
Video games
list
Shadows of the Empire
Knights of the Old Republic
The Force Unleashed
The Old Republic
Art
Books
non-fiction
Comics
list
Expanded universe
characters
Cultural
impact
501st Legion
Comparison to Star Trek
Fan films
Parodies
Force for Change
Jedi census
Jediism
Rebel Legion
Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Day
Star Wars: In Concert
Star Wars Insider
Wookieepedia
TheForce.Net
Yoda conditions
Book
Category
Portal
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Star_Wars_Day&oldid=849666911"
Categories:
Unofficial observances
Star Wars fandom
Puns
May observances
Recurring events established in 2011
2011 establishments in Ontario
Hidden categories:
Use mdy dates from May 2012
Infobox holiday fixed day
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
In other projects
Wikimedia Commons
Languages
Català
Español
Français
한국어
Հայերեն
Italiano
עברית
Magyar
Polski
Português
Русский
Svenska
Türkçe
中文
5 more
Edit links
This page was last edited on 10 July 2018, at 14:51 (UTC).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: i

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

attrs: class href

values: mw-jump-link #mw-head

values: mw-jump-link #p-search

value: p

attrs: role class

values:
note
hatnote navigation-not-searchable

attrs: colspan class style

values: May the 4th be with you (Star Wars Day).gif

value: span

values:
/wiki/List_of_commemorative_days
mw-redirect
List of commemorative days

values:
/wiki/May_the_Force_be_with_you
mw-redirect
May the Force be with you

values:
/wiki/Prime_Minister
mw-redirect
Prime Minister

values:
nofollow
external text
http://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th

values:
nofollow
https://www.thinkgeek.com/geekpride/
external text

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values: List of Star Wars films and television series

values: List of accolades received by Star Wars: The Force Awakens

values: List of box office records set by Star Wars: The Force Awakens

values: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)

values: List of Star Wars: The Clone Wars cast members

values: List of Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes

values: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (soundtrack)

values: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (soundtrack)

values: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (soundtrack)

values: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (soundtrack)

values:
/wiki/Rogue_One_(soundtrack)
mw-redirect
Rogue One (soundtrack)

values: List of Star Wars theme parks attractions

values: Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination

values: Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures

values: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series)

values: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (project)

values: Category:Parody films based on Star Wars

attrs: alt src title width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible

values: Category:Recurring events established in 2011

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Star_Wars_Day
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values: Past revisions of this page [ctrl-alt-h]

values: p-views navigation vectorTabs p-views-label

values: A list of all special pages [ctrl-alt-q]

values: Permanent link to this revision of the page

values: Link to connected data repository item [ctrl-alt-g]

values: Printable version of this page [ctrl-alt-p]

values: portal navigation p-wikibase-otherprojects p-wikibase-otherprojects-label

values: Dia de la guerra de les galàxies – Catalan

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ca
display: none;

values: 스타워즈의 날 – Korean

values: «Աստղային պատերազմների» օր – Armenian

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hy
display: none;

values: יום מלחמת הכוכבים – Hebrew

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-he
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hu
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-pl
display: none;

values: День «Звёздных войн» – Russian

values: All languages (initial selection from common choices by you and others)

values: /static/images/wikimedia-button-1.5x.png 1.5x, /static/images/wikimedia-button-2x.png 2x

values: /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_132x47.png 1.5x, /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_176x62.png 2x

values:
suggestions
display: none; font-size: 13px;

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Star_Wars_Day rootpage-Star_Wars_Day skin-vector action-view