Shared by Lee Wilcox, as Guest Blogger.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will once again host its annual Veterans Day Commemorative Luminary event.  Starting at 1:00 p.m. , living historians in period attire will provide programs at the historic Hillsman House, site of a Federal field hospital during the battle.  Then, at 6:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m., visitors are invited to participate in a ranger-led night hike along the Wheaton Trail lit with hundreds of luminaries, each representing a soldier who gave their last full measure as blue and gray clashed along the creek valley.  The event concludes with a touching tribute of Taps performed by a lone bugler hidden among the shadows.

Luminary for Veteran's Day observance

This annual occasion has become a signature event that touches the lives of so many people who participate in the experience, whether they are veterans themselves or are honoring someone special who served in the armed forces, no matter the time period in American history.

And, as is often the case, there are so many stories to share during commemorations such as this that leaves one in awe of the circumstances that brought soldiers together on the field of battle.

Take for instance the story of General Santa Anna’s spurs.  Yes, that Santa Anna from the Alamo!  During the Mexican-American War, then-President Santa Anna was defeated by American forces led by General Winfield Scott.  As was customary at the time, President Santa Anna gave his sword to General Scott.  However, General Scott politely declined the gesture.  So, President Santa Anna offered the general his ornate spurs instead.  Made of steel, inlaid with gold and engraved with a decorative vine pattern, General Scott accepted the gift.  He, in turn, presented the spurs to his chief artillerist, Captain Benjamin Huger (pronounced “yew-gee”), for bravery and heroism during the conflict.

Santa Anna's spur

Thirteen years later, at the outbreak of the American Civil War, Benjamin Huger gave Santa Anna’s spurs to his son, Frank Huger, who had joined the Confederacy.  Also an artillerist, Frank Huger quickly proved his mettle in battle and rose to the rank of Colonel by 1865, just in time for the Appomattox Campaign.  On April 6, during the Battles of Sailor’s Creek, Colonel Huger’s artillery battalion surrendered to Federal cavalry led by George Armstrong Custer.  Yes, that George Armstrong Custer from the Little Big Horn!  As fate would have it, Frank Huger and George Custer were old friends from their days at West Point.  Now a prisoner of war, and a “guest” of his former classmate, Huger gave Custer the Santa Anna spurs for safe-keeping.

Twenty years later during the Battle of Little Big Horn, Custer is killed in action.  On his boots that fateful day were Santa Anna’s spurs.  When his body was recovered his personal effects were sent to his widow, Libbie Custer.  Among the collection of items was one of the two spurs (the other spur lost to history).  Aware of the story of how her husband obtained the spurs, Mrs. Custer returned the sole surviving spur to Frank Huger.  Years later, Frank Huger’s descendants donated the Santa Anna spur to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture where it remains on display today.

Frank Huger (left) and George Custer (right)

Stories, such as this, abound throughout the American Civil War, including several such instances at Sailor’s Creek.  We hope you will visit the Battlefield and partake in the Veterans Day Commemorative Luminary event on Saturday, Nov. 9.  For questions, please contact the Visitor Center at (804) 561-7510.