Greyback Diary: "...we heard heavy firing."

Friday, April 7, 1865, Richmond Stage Road, west of Farmville.

Much has happened to us since the last entry. It was midnight last when we were rousted together and put back on the road. As usual, no breakfast. The rain, sometimes heavy, sometimes not, has paid us another visit. We passed over Sayler's Creek en route to Farmville. We passed knapsacks, cartridge boxes, overcoats and an occasional musket tossed along the side of the road. These are bad signs.

We had placed great hopes that at Farmville, there would be rations. Once we saw High Bridge in the distance spanning the Appomattox, we were amazed at the majesty and massiveness of the structure. As it is a railroad bridge, engineers had laid down planks to allow foot and horse to cross. Once again, the Yankee cavalry found us and harassed us with the help of some artillery.

High Bridge

We came out of column and went into line to take care of these rude people but they did not press their attack. We left the line and marched into Farmville. There were rations there and some were being loaded into wagons as we were awaiting our turn to be issued rations from the railroad platforms.

We didn't get very much as soon we were issued frantic orders to make for the bridge. Cavalry, artillery and infantry mixed together heading for the bridge which was on fire.With one eye on the bridge to salvation and the other on Yankee artillery, the brigade crossed the bridge in a state of unmilitary disorder. Even so, we were glad to see the bridge burn behind us. Some of our own artillery was brought up to shell theirs.

Confederate artillery.

Confederate artillery from South Carolina.

Once across, we marched easier with the knowledge that the Yankees could not get at us from that direction. Even so, we knew that somewhere, there were Yankees on our side of the river. We were cautioned to be vigilant as an attack could come from either flank at any time.

From the time we crossed High Bridge until we reached this place, the brigade went into line of battle several times. One time, we fronted south. Another, we fronted southwest and for awhile, we fronted straight to the west. We were threatened but not assaulted. We did witness the cavalry from Gary's brigade performed good service against some Yankees in front and to the right of us.

We passed a line of numerous abandoned wagons, all burnt up.

Our rations have again been exhausted. We have had no dinner and no supper. It is raining again but not hard.

I Send You These Few Lines

Tooms and his pards think that they are after because High Bridge has been destroyed by fire. What they are unaware of is that the bridge was captured by Union troops before it was fully engulfed in flames. The fire was put out by the 19th Maine and repairs effected.

The repaired High Bridge.

Tooms, his pards, and perhaps all those except the senior officer corps, are unaware that yesterday, April 6, there occurred the Battle of Sayler's (sometimes spelled Sailor's) Creek. This was a utter severe defeat for Southern arms. In short, part of the retreating Confederate army took the wrong road and most everybody behind them followed, unaware that they were now separated from the main body. Union cavalry under Wesley Merritt and infantry from II and VI Corps held Richard Ewell's men in place and after a sharp fight, compelled him to surrender. The loss to Lee was some 7,000 men, a critical and crippling loss.

Surrender at Sayler's Creek.

Nine Confederate generals were captured including Lee's eldest son, Custis, Merriweather Lewis Clark, son of the explorer William Clark, and Richard Anderson, who survived the war and is buried in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Beaufort, SC.