The battle of Sayer's Creek marked the last battle between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Northern Virginia. After withdrawing from Petersburg, Lee moved his approximate 50,000 man army west in an attempt to unite with Joe Johnson's 30,000 men. Grant pursued the retreating army and kept strong pressure upon it.

At Sayler's Creek, the Confederate's counter attacked and was able to drive back the Union center,  but with the arrival of more Federal troops the offensive was stopped and the southerners were soon surrounded. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, but the badly outnumbered rebels were forced to yield. On witnessing the battle from a hill, Lee commented to a subordinate, "General, that half of our army is destroyed"