Shared by Zachary Pittard and Zoe Rogers, as Guest Blogger.

Living History Encampments at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park October 17-18, 2015

Zachary Pittard, park interpreter at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park, interprets a Private in the 19th Virginia Heavy Artillery Battalion. 

Recently, while portraying Private Jefferson, he put pen to paper to write a letter home to his brother describing what he is experiencing in an encampment at Chaffin’s Bluff Richmond Defenses on Sunday, March 12, 1865. The Battalion was evacuated from Richmond on April 2, 1865 and arrived at Sailor’s Creek in the afternoon of April 6, 1865. It is here that the Battalion found themselves under heavy fire and eventually surrounded by Federal infantry and cavalry on all sides; surrender was inevitable. On April 7, 1865, as prisoners of war, they started their long march to Petersburg and City Point to be taken to northern prisons.

Park visitors will experience the camps of Civil War soldiers on the march

Chaffin’s Bluff Richmond Defenses

Sunday March 12, 1865

Dear Brother,

In response to your letter of late I am doing quite well in our current position.  From our ditches on Chaffin’s Bluff we overlook Ole Jim and do good work keeping Mr. Lincoln’s troops weary of excursions.  We fair well with our arrangements here and I am in fact writing after a hearty breakfast of fried sausage, boiled ham, pure Yankee coffee, and corn bread.  All in our mess contributed to our Sunday feast.  On our typical ration issue we are allotted a pound of cornmeal, quarter pound of bacon, and occasionally given a pound of fresh beef in lieu of bacon.  A fortnight ago we received beef put up in Europe.  It is quite palatable.  Our good friend Joe Bondurant and I took a leave of absence from the works to venture out and make an attempt at scrounging up fuel to burn.  We came across on this expedition some rather interesting fellows.  Let me tell you though that these men were of stout size and proudly carried with great pride the title of Confederate Marines.  Several men in this gaggle were very loud and boisterous and spoke with heavy Irish brogues.  This was much to Joe’s delight when he would ask them to repeat several words just to hear their odd pronunciations and would retort with a bellowed laugh.  They wore fine suits of clothes that garnered the envy of Joe and me.  They were clad in long gray frocks trimmed in black, gray trousers, dark blue caps, and as they informed us fine white trousers for spring wear.  These men maintain a position of defense at Drewery’s Bluff and for the most part perform well in their duties.  I can assure you that these men who call themselves Marines will deal a heavy hand to Billy Yank if ever given the nee or opportunity and after seeing these lads there is reassurance that there are still stalwarts amongst us ready to stand firm in our cause.  Though their numbers are small the spirit and integrity of these men is that of which should be emulated throughout the Army.  I can write no more as I am going on with little ink and have nothing else to add at the present.  Please give my love to the family and I remain son and brother.

Jefferson

Civil War soldiers present interactive activities including cooking, and drills (Reenactors)

As a visitor to Sailor’s Creek Battlefield, you can experience the life of a Civil War infantry soldier on the march on the actual battlegrounds of Sailor’s Creek.

Civil War soldiers conducting a black powder demonstration (Reenactors)

The park is located at 6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, Va. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three to three and a half hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, two hours. For directions, click here.