The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-17
PHIL sHER1DAN,s PERIL.
A Rem,issSscence by Gen. Gordon Of the
Battle Of the Appo,natt0r.
1t5 IPhiladelnhia Timaa

Iu1A6Uc1pnAS 4Au4o0sJ
Chad 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 ut once to hear from Gen. Long
street, feeling that if he was marching to-
wards me we might still cut through and
was about two miles off with his men faced
just opposite from mine, fighting for his
life. 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 flag of truce. called
Maj. Hunter, of my staff, to me and told
him that + wanted him to carrya flag of
truce forward. He replied:
"'General, have no flag of truce
"I told him to get 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 go forward
III have no handkerchief, General
sThen borrow one and go forward with
it, ..- 81 a .lE.5 . ara
s'He tried and reported to me that there
was no handkerchief in my staff.
"'Then, Major, use your shirt
"'You see, General, that we all have on
flannel shirts ..s.-s ..
s'At 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 a 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:
"tGen. 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 I
will not surrender
"tBut, General, he will annihilate you.'
Il am perfectly welt aware of my situa-
ton. Isimply 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 a very
large staff. Just here an incident occurred
that came near havinga serious ending. AS
Gen. Sheridan was approaching noticed
one of my sharpshooters drawing his
rife down upon him. I at once called
to him, Put down your gun, SIR
this is flag of trucep But he never raised
it. He simply settled it to his shoulder, and
was drawing bead on Sheridan, when I
leaned forward and jerked his gun. He
struggled with me, but finally raised it. T
then loused it 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, upon me and said: Well,
general, let him keep on his own side!' The
fighting had continued up to this point. In
deed, after flag of truce, a regiment of my
men, who had been fighting their way
through towards where they we're, and who
did not know of flag of
truce, fired into some of Sheridan's
cavalry. This was speedily stopped, however.
l showed Gen. Sheridan Gen. Lees note,
and he determined to await events. He dis
mounted, and 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 nan, with their guns in their
hands. But could not permit it. The
great drama had been played to its end.''