Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-10-09
Phil SlleridaM's Peril.
REMINIscENCE BY GEN. (sENAToR>
GORDON OF THE BATTLE OF Apo
MATToX.
Philadelphia Times, August 81. I

Philadelphia Times, August 3l.l
81 had message from Genera
Lee telling of a flag of truce was il
existence, leaving it to my discre-
ton as to what course to pursue
My men were still pushing thei,
way on. l sent at once to heal
from General Longstreet, feeling
that is he was still marching to-
ward me we might cut through an6
carry the army forward. [ learned
that he was about two miles of
with his men faced just opposite
from mine, fighting for his life. ]
thus saw that the case was hopeless,
The further each of us drove the
enemy the further we drifted apart
and the more exposed we left our
wagon trains and artillery, which
we parked between us. Every
time either of us broke it only
opened the gap wider. I saw
plainly that the Federals would
soon rush between us, and then
there would have been no army.-
l therefore determined to send a
flag of truce. l called Major Hunt,
er, of my staff, to me and told him
to carry flag of truce forward
He replied
"General, l have no flag of
truce"
81 told him to get one." He
replied:
General, we have no flag of
truce in our command"
"Then," said l, ssThen get your
handkerchief, put it on a stick and
60 forward"
81 have no handkerchief, Gen
eral.'
"Ther borrow one and go for
ward with it."
"He tried, and reported to me
that there was no handkerchief in
my staff"
"Then, major, use your shirt"
~ on see, general, that we all
have on flannel shirts"
"At last, 1 believe, we found a.
man who had white shirt. He
gave it to us, and ! tore off the
back and tail, and rigging this to
stick Major Hunter went out :o-I
ward the enemy's lines. l in-l
strncted him to simply say to |
General Sheridan that General
Lee had written me that a flag of
truce had been sent from his and
Grants headquarters, and that he |
could act as he thought best on this
In few minutes he
came back with Major of
Sheridan's staff The officer said i
General Sheridan requested me
to present his compliments to you,
and demand the unconditional sur
render of your army"
"Major, will you please return
my compliments to General Sheri-I
dan, and say that 1 will not sur
render."
"But, general, he will annihilate
you"
81 am perfectly aware of my
situation. l simply gave General
some information on
which he may or may not desire to
act."
"He went back to his lines, and
in short time General Sheridan
came galloping forward on an im-l
mense horse and attended by a very
large staff. Just here an incident
occurred which came near having a
serious ending. AS General Sheri.
dan was approaching l noticed one
of my sharpshouters drawing his
rifle down upon him. [ at once
called to him, "Put down your gnn.
Sir ; this is flag of truce" But
ne never raised it. He simply set
tied it to his shoulder, and was
drawing bead on Sheridan, when
leaned forward and ierked his
gun. He struggled with me, but
finally raised it. | loosed it and
he started to aim again. | caught
it again, when he turned his stern
white face, all broken with grief
and streaming with tears, mp to me
and said, We'll, general, then let
him keep on his own sidc.' The
lighting had continued mp to this
point. Indeed, after the flag of
truce, regiment of my men, who
had been fighting their way through
to where we were, and did not
know of flag of truce, fired into
General Sheridan's cavalry. This
was speedily stopped, however. Il
showed General Sheridan General
Lees note, and he determined to
await events. He disnounted and
did the same. Then, for the first
time, the men seemed to understand
what it all meant. And then the
poor fellows broke down. The
men cried like children. Worn.
starved and bleeding as they were.
they had rather have died than
have aurroudoxo6 A.