Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park
| Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park (Prince Edward County, Virginia), Rice, Virginia, U.S.A. | |
|---|---|
 Entry sign, with the Overton-Hillsman House in the background | |
  Location of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park (Battle of Sayler's Creek - April 6th, 1865) | |
| Location | 6541 Saylers Creek Road, (Prince Edward County), Rice, Virginia 23966 |
| Coordinates | 37°10′43.7154″N 78°8′14.5386″W / 37.178809833°N 78.137371833°WCoordinates: 37°10′43.7154″N 78°8′14.5386″W / 37.178809833°N 78.137371833°W |
| Area | 341 acres (138 ha) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park is a 321-acre (130 ha) state park in Rice, Virginia, (Prince Edward County). It includes a portion of the landmarked Sayler's Creek Battlefield, an area of 1,022 acres (414 ha) that was the site of the April 6th, 1865 Battle of Sayler's Creek, one of the last major engagements in the Eastern Theater of the war during Confederate General-in-Chief Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), during his week-long retreat to the southwest in the final Appomattox campaign from the fallen Confederate capital at Richmond and nearby Petersburg, before his subsequent surrender three days later at Appomattox Court House to pursuing Union Army General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War (1861-1865).
It is also likely that some of this state historical park established in 1985 by the Commonwealth of Virginia is not included in the four separated parcels that were landmarked.
Besides the historical landmark house, visitors center, exhibits with artifacts/memorabilia, park ranger talks and lectures, walking trails, interpretive plaques, gift shop. etc., the park also includes such amenities as picnic tables and barbecue grills available for use.[1]
The Overton-Hillsman House on the site was used as a field hospital during and after the battle, and is open to visitors in the summer and by request. The park also occasionally hosts "living history" events with Civil War soldier and civilian reenactors during the year.
The park name appears to be a further misspelling of Saylor, a farmer after whose land and the stream for which the Battle of Sayler's Creek was afterwards later named in 1865. Some official records such as those of the National Historic Landmark program correctly refer to this park as being named the Sayler's Creek Battlefield State Park.
Gallery[]
A park ranger speaks to reenactors at the park, 2012
Displays in the Overton-Hillsman House
Exhibits at the visitor center
Items for sale in the gift shop
Lands along the Confederate Overlook Trail
See also[]
References[]
External links[]
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- State parks of Virginia
- Parks in Amelia County, Virginia
- Museums in Amelia County, Virginia
- Historic house museums in Virginia
- American Civil War museums in Virginia
- Battlefields of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
- Protected areas established in 1985
- 1985 establishments in Virginia
- Central Virginia geography stubs
- American Civil War stubs