Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-22
PHIL SHERIDAN,S PERIL.
Il "Reminiscences bv Gen. Gordon Of the
Battle Of the 4ppoaaatton.
PHILADELPHIA Times,1

Il "Reminiscences bv Gen. Gordon Of the
Battle Of the Appoaaatton.
philadelphia Times
II had message from Gen. Lee telling
me flag of truce was in existence, leaving
it to my discretion as to what course to pur-
sue. My men were still pushing their way
on. I sent at once to hear from Gen. Long
street, feeling thatajf he was marching to-
wards me we might still cut through and
carry the army forward. learned that he
was about two miles off with his men faced
just opposite from mine, fighting for his
life. I thus saw that the case was hopeless.
The farther each of us drove the enemy, the
farther we drifted apart, and the more ex
posed we left our wagon trains and artillery,
which was parked between us. Every time
either of US broke only opened the gap
wider. I saw plainly that the federals would
soon rush in between US, and then there
would have been no army. I therefore de-
termined to send a flag of truce. I called
Maj. Hunter, of my staff, to me and told
him that I wanted him to carry flag of
truce forward. He replied:
"'General, 1 have no flag of truce
"'I told him to got one. He replied:'
"'General, we have no flag of truce in our
commando
"Then said I: "Then get your handker-
chief, put it on stick, and 60 forward
81 have no handkerchief, General
sThen borrow one and 90 forward with
it,
"He tried and reported to me that there
was no handkerchief in my staff.
Then, Major, use your shirt
C You see, General, that all have
flannel shirts
cat last, believe, We found man who
had white shirt He gave it to us, and
tore off the back and tail, and, ringing this
to stick, Major Hunter went out towards
the enemy's lines. I instructed him to SIM
ply say to Gen. Sheridan that Gen. Lee had
written me that flag of truce had been
sent from his and Grants headquarters, and
that he could act as he thought best on this
information. In few moments he came
back with Maj. -, of Sheridan's staff.
This officer SAID:
g. Gen. Sheridan requested me to present
his compliments to you and to demand the
unconditional surrender of your army
Major, you will please return my COM
pliments to Gen. Sheridan and say that l
will not surrender
"'But General, he will annihilate YOU
am perfectly we'll aware of my situa-
ton. I simply gave Gen. Sheridan some in
formation on which he may or may not de-.
sire to act
"He went back to his lines, and in short
time Gen. Sheridan came galloping forward
on an immense horse and attended by very
large staff. just here an incident occurred
that came near having serious ending. AS
Gen. Sheridan was approaching l noticed
one of my sharpshooters drawing ms
rifle down upon him. l at once called
to him, Put down your gun, SIR
this is flag of trucen But he never raised
it, He simply settled it to his shoulder, and
was drawing bead on Sheridan, when |
leaned forward and jerked his gun. He
struggled with me, but finally raised it. /
then loosed it and he started to aim again.
caught it again, when be turned his stern,
white face, all broken with grief and stream
ing with tears, upon me and said: well,
general, let him keep on his own sider The
fighting had continued up to this point. In
deed, after flag of truce, regiment of my
through towards where they were, and who
did not know Of flag of
truce, fired into some of Sheridan's
cavalry. This was speedily stopped, however.
| showed Gen. Sheridan Gen. Lees note,
ana Q6 OeLfCIuIuS&l W dW1ho oSSlitSs IA0 ulS-
mounted, and I did the same. Then, for
the first time, the men seemed to understand
what it all meant. And then the poor fell
lows broke down. The men cried like chill
dren. Worn, starved, and bleeding as they
were, they had rather have died than have
surrendered. At one word from me they
would have hurled themselves on the enemy,
and have cut their way through, or have
fallen to man, with their guns in their
hands. But l could not permit it. The
great drama had been played to it's end.''