Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-09-27
PHIL. SHERIDAN'S PERIL.
A Reminiscence by General (Sena-
tor Gordon of the Battle of
the AppOmattOx.

t0r) Gordon of the EaLtle of
the AppOmattOx.
had message from General Lee tell
ing me flag OF truce was in existence,
leaving il to my discretion as to what
course to pursue. My men were stu
pushing their way on. sent at once to
hear from General Longstreet, feeling
that If he was MAJ ching toward me we
might still cut through and carry the
army forward. learned that it was
about two miles off with his men faced
just opposite from mine, fighting for his
lite thus saw that The case was hope
less The further each of us owe the
enemy the further we drifted apart and
the more exposed we lsft our wagon trains
and artillery, which was parked between
us. Every time eithero o. us broke onlv
opened the gap wider. saw plainly that
the Federals would soon rush in between
us and then there would have been no
armv. therefore determined To send a
nag of truce. l called Major Hunter, of
my staff, 10 me and told him that l want
ed him to carry flag Of truce forward.
He ieplied
General, have ne flag OF truce"
i told him TO get one. He replied:
General, we have no fla ftruce in
cur commend"
Then l said "Then get your hand
kerchief, put it on stick and 60 for.
ward"
II have no handkerchief, General"
"Thcn borrow one and go forward with
it,"
He tried, and reported to me that there
was no handkerchiefin my staff.
"Then, Major, use your shirt
"You see, General. that we all have
on flannel shirts"
AT last, believe. we found a man who
had II white shirt. He gave it to us and
| tore off the back and tail. and rigging
this TO stick, Major Hunter went ort
toward the enemy's liues. l instructed
him TO simply say to General Sheridan
dat General Lee had WI itten 20 me that
flag of truce had been sent r,om his and
Grants headquarters, and that he could
act as Se thought best or this informa-
tion. in few moments he came back
with Major - OF Shei idan's staff. This
officer said 1:
"Gene,al Sheridan requested me to
present his compliments to you and to
demand the unconditional surrender of
your army
major, you will please retrin my
compliments 10 General Sheridan and say
that ] will not surrender"
"But, General, he vii annihilate YOU"
II am perfectly well aware of my sit
uation. simply give Gene. al Sheridan
some information on which be may or
may not desire 10 act"
He wunt back to his lines and in short
time General Sheridan came galloping
forward on an immense horse and attend
cd by very large staff. He an incident
occurred that came near having serious
ending. AS General Sheridan was APP
preaching l noticed one os nv Sharp
shooters drawing his rife down upon him.
l at once called to m, "Put down your
gun, sir this is a flag oS truce" But he
never raised it. He simply settled it 10
his shoulder and was drawing bead on
Sheridan when l leaned forward ard
jerked his qua. He stsuggled with me
but finally raised it. then loosened it,
and he started to aim again. caught i:
again, VIXEN he turned his stern white
face, all broken with grief and streaming
with tears, up to me and said, "Well.
General, then lei him keep on his own
side I" The fighting had continued Up
to this point. Indeed, after the flag Of
truce, a regiment OF mer, who were
fighting their wav through toward where
we we're, and who did not know Of the
flag of truce, fred into some OF Sheridan's
cavalry. Tals was speedily stopped,
however. L showed General Sheridan
General Lees note, and he determined to
await events. He dismounted and l did
the same. Then for the first time, the
men seemed TO understand what 1t all
meant. And then the poor fellows broke
down. The men cried like cbildren.
Worn, starved and bleeding as they
were, they had rather have died than
have surrendered. At one word from me
they would have hurled them selves on the
enemy, and have cut their way through
or faller to a man With their guns in their
hands. But could not permit it. The
great drama had been played TO its end
Philadelphia Times.