Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-13
PIN. sBEnuH,ts, PERM
A Reminlsesnoe by Gen. senator, Go
don Of the Battle of Anpomattox,

A Reminlscence by Gen. (senator) Cor.
don OF the Battle of Appemattox.
Philadelphia Times, Aug. 81.
II had . message from Gen. Lee telling
me . dag of truce was in existence, leaving
1t 70 my discretion as TO what course to pur.
sue. Ny men were still pushing their way
on. l sent at once to hear from General
LonRstreet, feeling that if he was still
marching toward me v might cut through
and carry the army forward. I learned
that he was about two miles off with hia
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
moro exposed We left our wagon trains and
artillery, which was packed between us.
Every time either of us broke it only open
ed the gap the wider. I saw plainly that
the federals would soon rush in between Us
and then there would have been no army.
I therefore determined to send = flag Of
truce. I called Major Hunter, Of my staff,
to me and told him that l wanted him to
carry . flag Of truce forward. He replied;
General, I have no flag of truce
II told him to get n He replied:
General, We haye no flag of truce in our
"Then," said 1, "Then get your handker-
chief put it on a stick and 60 forward
"tI have no handkerchief. general,
"'Then borrow one and 20 forward with
it,
"He tried, and reported to me that there
no handkerchief in my staff.
"'Then major, use your shirt
"'You see, general, that We all have on
aannel shirts.'
"At last, I believe, We found a man who
had a white shirt. He gave it to US, and /
lore of the back and tail, and rigging this
70 3 stick Major Hunter went out towards
The enemy's lines. I instructed him to
say to General Sheridan that Gen.
Leo had written me that q Dag of truce had
been sent from his and Grants headquarters
and that he could act as he thought best on
his information. In a few minutes he
came back with Major-, of Sheridan's
taft. The officer said:
"General Sheridan requested me to pre-.
sent his compliments to you and TO de-
nand the unconditional surrender of your
army"
"Aajor, you will please return my COM
pliments to General Sheridan, and say that
will not surrender"
"But, General, he will annihilate you"
81 am perfectly well aware of my situa.
l simply gave General Sheridan come
on which he may or may not
1esire, to sc,."
HE went back to his lines and IN q short
lime Gen. Sheridan came galloping forward
an immense horse and attended BY a very
staff. Just here an incident occurred
which came near having q serious ending.
Gen. Sheridan was approaching / no.
ticed one of my sharp-shooters drawing his
rifle down upon him. l at once called to
him, Put down your gun, sir; this IS q flag
truce But be never raised it. He sim-
ply settled it to his shoulder and was draw.
ing o bead on Sheridan, when I leaned for
ward and jerked bis gun. He struggled
with me, but I finally raised IT.. I then
loosed 1t and he started to aim again. I
caught it again, when he turned his stern
white face. all broken With grief and stream
ing with tears. up to me aud said, Well,
general. then let him keep ON bis own side
The fighting had continued up to this point.
Indeed, after the flag of truce, a regiment of
my men, who had been fighting their way
through to where We were, and who did
of Q flag of truce, fired into Sher.
idan's cavalry. This was speedily stopped,
however. l showed Gen. Sheridan. General
Lee'st note, and he determined to await
events. He %dismounted and I did the same.
Then. for the frat time. the men seemed to
what it all meant. And then
The poor fellows broke down.. The men
cried like children. When, starved, and
bleeding as they were, they had, rather have
lied b have surrendered. At one word
from me they would have hurled Themselves
On the enemy and have cut their way
through or fallen to . man with their guns
their hands. But l could not permit It.
The great drama had been played to the
end.p