The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-10-02
Pill. sHERIDAN,s PERIL.
A "Reminiscences by Gen. (SenatOr) Cor.
den Of the Battle Of APpOmattOx.

den Ofthe Battle of Appomat1Ox.
Il had a message from General
Lee telling Of flag Of truce was in ex-
istence, leaving it TO my discretion as
to what course to pursue. Ny men
were still pushing their way on. l
sent at once to hear from Gen. Long
street, feeling that if he was still march
ing toward me we might cut through
and carry thearmy forward. l learned
that he was about two miles off with
his men faced just opposite from mine,
fighting for his life. l thus saw that
the case was hopeless. The further
each ofus drove the enemy the further
we drifted apart and the more expos
ed we left our wagon trains and artil-
lery, which was parked between us.
Every time either of us broke it only
opened the gap wider. | saw plainly
that the Federals would soon rush be-
tween us, and then there would have
been no army. therefore determin-
ed to send flag Of truce. l called
Major Hunter, of my staff, to me and
told him that | wanted him to carry a
flag of truce forward. He replied
General, | have no flag of truce"
'Itold him to get one He replied:
General, we have no flag of truce
in our command
"Then, said l., Then get your
handkerchief, put it on stick and go
forward.
Il have no handkerchief general
"Then borrow one and go forward
with it..
Gle 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.
cat last, 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 a stick Major Hunter
went out toward the enemy's lines. |
instructed him to simply say to Gen
eral Sheridan that General Lee had
written me that a flag of truce had
been sent from his and Grants head
quarters, and that he could act as he
thought best on this information. In
a few minutes he came back with Ma
jOr--, Of Sheridan's staff. The
officer said:
General Sheridan requested me to
present his compliments to you, and
demand the unconditional surrender of
your army"
Major, will you please return my
compliments to General Sheridan. and
say that will not surrender
|, 'But, general, he will annihilate
you.s
Il am perfectly aware of my situa-
ton. simply gave General Sheridan
some information on which he may Oh
may not desire to act
''He went back to his lines, and in
short time General Sheridan came
galloping on an immense horse and at
tended by a very large staff Just
here an accident occurred which came
near having a serious Guiding. As Gen
eral Sheridan was approac hing motto
ed one of my sharpshOoters drawing
his rife down upon him. l at once
called to him, Put down your gun sir;
this is a flag of truce But he never
raised it. He simply settled it to his
shoulder, and was drawing a bead on
Sheridan, when / leaned forward and
jerked his gun. He struggled with me
but l finally raised it. l then 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, up to me
and said, We'll, general, then let him
keep Oh mis- own side" The fighting
had continued up to this point. In
deed, after the flag of truce, a regi-
ment of my men, who had been fight
ing their way through to where we
were, and did not know of flag OF
truce, fired into General Sheridan's
cavalry. This was speedily st pped,
however. l showed General Sheridan
General Lees note, and he determined
to await events. He dismounted anC
l did the same. Then, for the frs
time, the men seemed to understand
what it all ment. And then the poor
fellows broke down The men cried
like children. Worn, starved anc
bleeding as they were, they had rather
have died than have surrendered, Al
one word from me they would have
hurled themselves on the enemy and
have cut their way through or faller
to man with their guns in then
hands. But l could not permit it
The great drama had been played tc
the end"