Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-10-10
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND MORNING. OCTOBER TO- 1879

April The retreat of Lees army was litup
with the fire and flash of battle in which
my brave men moved about like demigods
for five days and nights. Then we were
sent to the front for n rest and Longstreet
was ordered to cover the retreating army
On the evening of the 9Th, when | reached
the front, my scout, George, brought me two
men in Confederate uniform, who, he said
he believed belonged to the enemy, as he had
seen them counting our men Us they filed
past. bad the men brought to my camp
fire and examined them. They made II
most plausible defence, but George was posi-
tive they were spies, and | ordered them
searched. He failed to find anything, when
l ordered him to examine their boots In
the bottom of one of the boots | found an
order from Gen. Grant to Gen. Ord, telling
him to move by forced marches toward
Lynchburg and cut off Lees retreat. The
men then confessed that they were 'Jesse's,'
and belonged to Gen. Sheridan. They stated
that they knew that the penalty of their
course was death, but asked that should
not kill them, as the war could only last u
few days longer, anyhow. | kept them
prisoners and turned them over to General
Sheridan after the surrender. at once sent
the information to General Lee, and short
time aiterward received orders to go to his
headquarters. That night was held Lees
last council OF war. There were present Gen.
Lee, Gen. FitZhugh Lee, as head of the cav
airy, and Pendleton, as chief of artillery,
and myself Gen. Longstrcet was, | think,
too busily engaged to attend. Gen. Lee then
exhibited to us the correspondence he had
with Gen. Grant that day and asked our
opinion of the situation. Ii seemed that sur
render was inevitable. The only chance of
escape was that | could cut a way for the
army through the lines in front Of me. Gen,
Lee asked me if | could do this [ replied
that | did not know what forces were in
front of me; that if Gen. Ord had not ar
rived--as we thought then he had not-with
his heavy masses of infantry, | could cut
through. guaranteed my men would cut
way through all the cavalry that could be
massed in front of them. The council final
ly dissolved with the understanding that the
army be surrendered if discovered the next
morning, after feeling the enemy's line that
the infantry had arrived in such force that
could not cut my way through.
"My men were drawn up in the little town
of Appomattox that night. | stil had about
1000 men under me- as the army had been
divided into two commands and given to
Gen. Longstreet and myself Early on the
morning of the 9th | prepared for the assault
upon the cnemy's line and began the last
fighting done in Virginia. Ny men rushed
forward gamely and broke the line of the
enemy and captured two pieces of artillery.
| was still unable to tell what was fighting.
did not know whether was striking infan-
try or dismounted cavalry. only knew that
my men were driving them back, and were
getting further through. just then had a
message from Gen. Lee, telling me flag of
truce was In existence, leaving it To my dis
erection What course to pursue. Ny
men were still pushing thier way ON. sent
at once to hear from Gen. LongStTeet, feel
ing that If he was marching toward 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. | thus saw
the case was hopeless. The further each of
us drove the enemy the further we driltcd
apart and the more exposed we left our
wagon trains and artillery, which was pack
ed between us. Every time either Of us
broke only opened the gap the wider. |
saw plainly that the Federals would soon
rush between MS, and then there would have
been no army. | therefore determined to
send IA flag Of truce. | called Major Hun
ter, Of my staff, to me and told him that |
wanted him 10 carry FLAG of truce forward.
lie replied:
"'General, have no flag of truce
VI told him to get one. lie replied:
General, we have no flag Of truce in our
command
"Then said | Then get your handller-
chief, put il on stick and 90 forward
81 have no handkerchief, General
"Then borrow one and 90 forward with
it,
"lle tried, and reported to me that there
was no handkerchief in my staff
"'Fhen Major, use your shirt
"'You see, General, that we all have on
flannel shirts
AT last, ! bolieve we found man who
had on white shirt He gave it to us and
tore off the back and tail, and, rigging this
to q stick, Major Hunter went out toward
the enemy's lines. ] instructed him to sim
ply say to Gen. Sheridan that Gen Lee had
written me that II 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 Major ---, of Shcridan's staff
this officer said:
"'Gen. Sheridan requested me TO present
his compliments to you and 10 demand the
unconditional surrender Of your army
"'MajOr, you will please return my com
plimcnts to Gen. Sheridan, and say that |
will not surrender
"'But, General he will annhilalc YOU
so am perfectly aware Of my situation. |
simply gave Gen. Sheridan some inlorma-
ton on which he may or may not desire 30
act
THE FLAG M THRICE