The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-05-18

must return to Gen. Longstreet. He di.
rected Major Brown, of his staff. to 90
over 10 the right and ask for g suspension
OF hostilities. Major Brown came 10 me
and asked me for the towel I had used.
gave it to him, but, before doing so.
esked him not to allow the Federal officers
who came into our lines with me and
werc going to return with him to get pos
session of it, that would call later in the
day and get It from him.
Upon my reaching the position where I
h9d left Gen. LoDgstreet saw the staff
all standing together, and their faces
turned to the General and Federal off.
.cr, who were standing off some ten paces
talking. The Federal officer, who I re.
cognnized at once, was Gen. Custer. The
road in which | met Custer led right
down IN the direction of Gen. Long
streets position. Following this road.
when he encountered our tIoops he pull.
ed out his handkerchief aad rode into our
lines, when he was taken to Gen. Long
street.
Just as dismounted heard Gen. Gus.
ter say something to Gen. Lopgstreet
about the message he had sent hjn.
knowing how particular Gen. Lougc:fsc1
was, and fearing that he might be led by
Hen. Custer to think that had assumed
10 bear message from him (Longstreet)
ana not from Gordon, walked over 10
where they were and stated to Gen. Long
street that Gen. Custer was mistaken
l told him that the message was from
Gen. Gordon. They both said that thew
understood it and It was all right +
turned of, and, just as I walked OF. I
heard Custer cay:
"Well, wo will proceed to attack at
once"
Gen. Longstreet replied: Gust as
aoon az you please"
We all got ready, but the attack was
not made. ! think Gen. Custer discover.
cd, that while he was on the flank and
rear of Gen. Gordon, he was not in rear
of Lees army. And he very wisely dc.
cided not to attack. There seemed 10 be-
paralyzing influence spread over both
armies at once. Some fighting went ON.
on the extreme front and right but this
soon died out, and, think, without any
orders from any one.
TIE TWO LINES OF BATTLE
stood still, looked on in wonder and amaze.
ment, without firing gun.
We sauntered about the top of the hill
forgetting that breakfast-time, without
any breakfast, was fast passing away.
waiting for Gen. Lee TO come I'D. /
should think about or 10 o'clock he
rode up, aud we moved down or up the
road to an old barn near branch, on the
eide of the road, and waited there to hear
from Gen. Grant, who had cent message
that he would ride around to our front and
meet Gen. Lee at the village of Appomat.
tox.
While sitting there on the rail fence 1
remarked to Major.Gen. Field, whose
division was the only one Of the Army of
Northern Virginia intact and in good
fighting order, that the boys in reading
History hereafter would have hard tin
spelling out the names Appomattox.
Mattaponi. Tollapotine,. &C., &c. The
General replied that thcv would have the
sweet consolation that they were having
much easier time in spelling the names
of the battles than we had fighting them.
don't know whether this was the
scene of the apple tree or not, but there
were some old struggling apple trees
growing near by.
Directly gaily dressed young Federal
ofiicer made his appearance with an or
derly, dismounted, gave his horse to the
orderly, advanced to within about five
feet of Gen. Lee and delivered him o
message, which think was to the effect
that Gen. Grant had arrived at the vii
iage and would see him there.
Gen. Lees answer was very short. The
young man pulled out O memorandum
book and very formally wrote the answer
In it, saluted, faced around Ia miHtaire,
and moved off. This was the only formal
part that l observed of the surrender.
Gen: Lee and Gen. Longstreet and
portions of the staff rode over to Apo.
;nGttox Courthouse to meet Gen. Grant.
did not go with the party. Gan. Lee
returned in less than an hour.
AN ARMY IN TEARS.
have never in my lie seen the same
strong feeling, in many instances with
tears from the strongest mon, exhibited
as from the soldiers of Lees army at this
time. A few words from Gen. Lee, to the
effect: "You have done all that men can
do. leave the rest to God and bo quiet and
satisfied" and he passed ON, followed by
large mob of soldiers. They soon dis.
persed and everything was quiet. We
returned 10 our bivouac, and found Col.
Fairfax feasting. Gen. Gregg and few
other eaerai prisoners Oh almost the last
rations that We had, very much to our dis
gust.
Many sad and many amusing things
were done and said later in this hour of
gloom. Capt. Armistead, son of the old
General, brought me the sword of Gen.
Gregg, the captured Federal cavalry Gen
eral. | replied: "Keith, don't want it,
am obliged to you"
"Well, what shall I do with it?" he
said.
"Breas, it up and throw it into that
gully" This think he did.
Pending the interview looking 10 q
truce, Gen. Field and I rode leisurely
across the branch, which seemed by COM
mon consent to be the line between the
two armies. We soon met q Federal
soldier, evidently straggler, and directly
q lieutenant, colonel of Gen. Sheridan's
staff, l was informed The. Federal Off.
Ger ordered the Federal soldier to his
command with an oath, and, as he did
not move rapidly enough, he rushed at
him and struck him with his fist knock
ing his hat off. turned 70 Gen. Field
and said: General, that is West Point
discipline, 1 suppose. I'll bet you that
fellow graduated at West Point" "And
I'll bet you" he replied, "that he didn't;
and I'll will bet you that he kept whis.
key shop at cross-roRd before the war;"
The bet never was determined.
Col. McKissick had been badly wound
ed five months before and had come back
to his command on crntches. The army
broke camp and he had to follow the for.
tunes of Gen. Lee. He occupied the
irregular position at Appomattox Court
house of being present yet reported ab.