The Battle of Swift Creek (Arrowfield Church) And The Swift Creek Mill May 9 & 10, 1864 “At 1 p. m. (May 9) …. Hagood was accordingly ordered (by General Bragg via General Pickett) to advance on his front, and the movement began. Gantt (11th S. C.), with his regiment and a detachment of the Twenty-fifth (S. C.), was 150 yards across the stream holding the hill ..., his skirmishers thrown forward in a semicircle of some 200 yards radius and the enemy slightly pressing. Gantt’s line of battle was to the left of the road, beyond the crest of the hill. (General) Pickett’s plans were again changed, directing (General Hagood) to make a reconnoisance with the troops already over the creek. The Twenty-first (S. C.) was hurried over the bridge, and deploying to the right of the road (just beyond the Swift Creek Mill) under cover of the hill, was directed to advance upon an alignment with Gantt. Gantt… hearing firing upon his left and supposing … that the whole brigade was behind him, he ordered, under his previous instructions, an advance. The roar of musketry that followed informed Hagood, who was getting the Twenty-first up the hill, of the overwhelming force in his front, and he sent Captain Moloney to order Gantt back across the creek…. The troops over the creek came back pell mell over the bridge, and were reformed on the south bank.” Memoirs of the War of Secession of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, C.S.A.
“May 9, (1864) Mon. Fair, and very hot 102° in the shade at noon.” 13th Regiment of N. H. Vol. Infantry In the War of the Rebellion 1861-1865, A Diary by: Lieutenant S. Millett Thompson
“I was about to relieve my front-line with the second, but, instead, closed up, instructing my colonels to fire at a given signal. The Confederates came on in splendid style, with the peculiar “rebel yell” till within forty yards of our line, when our crushing volley swept them over the brow of the hill, and across the creek into the arms of their comrades, who were holding a redoubt which covered the force. It was a gallant charge and a bloody repulse.” General C. A. Heckman, U.S. Army
Courtesy of The Chesterfield Historical Society of VA
“Our line stood somewhat like a V across the turnpike…. Suddenly “a rebel yell” rose above the din on conflict, and from the east of the road, four columns deep, came Hagood’s South Carolina Brigade, at double quick, charging directly upon us. It was a grand spectacle, that line of gray-clad soldiers in solid column charging against our merciless fire.” Bearing Arms in the 27th Mass. Regiment of Volunteer Infantry During the Civil War 1861-1865 by: W. P. Derby
“Yelling like demons, onward they came with a courage worthy a nobler cause, and deserving a better fate. If Massachusetts has reason to cherish the memory of her victorious sons upon that field, no less has South Carolina to revere the self-sacrifice and daring of her defeated troops.” Bearing Arms in the 27th Mass. Regiment of Volunteer Infantry During the Civil War 1861-1865 by: W. P. Derby
“On the 10th, everything was quiet in our front, and General Hagood obtained permission to send a flag of truce to enquire after his wounded of the day before, and propose an exchange of prisoners he had captured at the (Walthall) Junction for those he had lost at the (Swift) Creek. Captain Moloney was sent, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot of the artillery accompanied him. On arriving at the enemy’s outpost… our flag was forcibly detained for some hours. Information was obtained, but the exchange failed….” Memoirs of the War of Secession of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, C.S.A.
Courtesy of The Chesterfield Historical Society of VA
Arrowfield Church
Swift Creek Mill
Hagood
“The whole field was strewn with the dead and dying…. Hunt’s Battery D, Fourth U. S. Artillery, was brought into position, covering a redoubt across Swift Creek, from which the enemy were shelling the ambulances under Surgeon Fish. The duel lasted till sundown, when the enemy’s battery was silenced, and our forces were left in victorious possession of the field. The sad work of ministering to the wounded and dead was continued far into the night, Arrowfield Church being used as a hospital.” Bearing Arms in the 27th Mass. Regiment of Volunteer Infantry During the Civil War 1861-1865 by: W. P. Derby (The shelling from Hunt’s Artillery may be responsible for the demolition of the north-west corner of the Mill.)
Courtesy of The Chesterfield Historical Society of VA
Special Thanks to: The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia Library and Military History Committee and George Fickett Jr, Michael Thomas, & Debra Herbst www.chesterfieldhistory.com
“I will mention here that as my pickets were returning from the line of Swift Creek a flag of truce was presented by the enemy… and discovering our retrograde movement, I deemed it justifiable to detain it for several hours till our movement had been accomplished.” Colonel S. M. Alford, U. S. Army
“We have buried your dead, and we willingly assent to an exchange of the wounded, but we cannot agree to exchange others, until you consent to acknowledge colored soldiers as prisoners of war.” Major General B. F. Butler, U.S. Army