On April 6, 1865 Sailor’s Creek (often mistakenly spelled Sayler’s Creek) was the site of the last major battle of the Civil War between the armies of generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. Some 7,700 Confederate soldiers—roughly one-fifth of Lee’s army—and 8 of his generals were captured here. The Union success led to the final downfall of Lee’s army three days later. In reporting his victory to President Lincoln, Gen. Philip Sheridan (by way of Gen. Grant) wrote, “if the thing is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender.” Lincoln replied, “Let the thing be pressed.” Engagements at Hillsman’s Farm, Marshall’s Crossroads, and Lockett’s Farm constituted the Battle of Sailor’s Creek’s main actions. The Hillsman House and the Lockett house are part of the interpretive sites within the Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park in Amelia and Prince Edward counties.