The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-12-07
"THE LAST FLAG OF TRUCE

~ VIII uS sScib at u RIauCe.
"THE EAST FLiii OF TRUCE"
"Reminiscences ElIclted by War story.
COLUMBIA, Nov. 2j.-Some months
ago Col. II. NJ. Sims published, in the
seriee OF war stories now running in the
Charleston Weekly Ne,cs. an admirable
account of THE Last Flag Of Truce
which he bore from Gen. John b. Cor.
don to Gen. Il. II. Sheridan, asking a
cessation Of hostilities preliminary TO the
surrender Of the Army Of Northern Nir.
ginia at ApPomattox Courthouse In his
account Col. Sims stated that he used a
white towel for the flag of truce, which
was lost in the crowding events attending
the surrender. He made some Inquiries
about the truce towel and has received a
number OF letters relating TO the subject.
In May Col. Sims received letter
from Carle A. Woodruff, breye. lieuten.
ant.colonel United State, army, station-
ed at Newport Barracks, KY, containing
the following: Il saw recently in the
Philadelphia Weekly Times an inquiry
from you regarding the present possessor
of the Last flag of truce. believe that
Mrs. Custer, widow of the late Major.
General g. A. Custer. has the flag. y 4
do not believe, however, that she would
part with it. rs believe it was presented
to her by Gen. Sheridan. would be
pleased to hear from you. have sever
al friends in South Carolina-Gen. Ker.
shaw, Major Hart and others. com.
manded the horse artillery Of Clusters di.
vision in 1865. and was with him at Ap.
pomattox."
In June Col. Sims received a letter
from Mr.. w. c. u. Grannis, vice presi-
dent Of the UEion National Bank, of
Chicago. enclosing the following commu-
nicntion bearing upon the flag Of truce
from Gen. Sheridan:
HEADQR's MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, June s, 1882.
My Dear Mr.. GRANNIs-Referring to
the letter written you by Mr.. r. M. Sims,
OF Charleston, S. c., requesting you to
obtain, if possible, some information re.
garding. to,rri used by him as a flag of
truce when bearing message from Gen.
Gordon to myself asking q cessation of
hostilities preliminary to the surrender
of fGen. Lees army of Northern Virginin,
at Appomattox Courthouse, Va, April
8, 1865. regret to say am unable to
state anything in relation to it's wherea.
bouts
lnquring amongst those of my staff
who were with me at the time has failed
to elicit any knowledge of it, and | know
of no method by which i, could be dis.
covered, unless it should be by publica-
ton in the newspapers. as suggested by
Mr. Sims.
am, my dear Mr.. Graunis, yours tru-
y, L. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General.
In June Col. Sims received the follow.
ing letter.
NEWPORT BArnAcKs, KY, June l6,
1882.
Dear Major: Your long and interest
ing letter of the Sd inst. was received
yesterday.
am not the lieutenant. colonel of cav.
airy who you met on the morning Of
April 9, 1865. think it must have been
Col. f. w. Whitaker. chief of the staff
of Gen. Custer's division. commanded
the artillery of the diviaion-have been
in the artillery since 1861.
/ enclose herewith Whiteker's address
Write to him and he will without doubt
explain how he became possessed with
the flag. And if he is not the lieuten-
ant colonel referred to, he can without
doubt name him.
My recollection is that the last flag of
truce, ltowel,) together with the little
table on which Gems. Lee and Grant
signed the terms Of the surrender were
given to Gen. Custer by Gen. Sheridan
with letters OF Authorization, and are,
presume, still in the possession OF Mrs.
Custer.
Should you see my friend Major Hart
nj any time give my KIND regards TO him,
and say that would be pleased to hear
from him.
Let m. know VIVA, Whitaker writes
about the flag of truce. Yours, very
truly,
CARLE A. WoopBUrr, u. s. A.
The Col. Whitster referred to ia at
present claims and real estate agent at
208 Four.and. q half street, Washington,
d. G. His proper title at the close Of the
war was "Brevet Brigedier General E.
w. Whitaker, lieutenant colonel First
Connecticut Cavalry, chief of staff 32d
Division Cavalry. (Custer's.) Army of the
Potomac"
About the middle of October Col.
Sims received touching and beautiful
letter from Mrs. Elizabeth G. Custer,
widow Of the late Gen. Custer, to whom
he had written in relation to the flag oi
truce. Col. Sims will not give Mrs
Clusters letter for publication, but in il
she says that she now has the truco towel
in her possession. It vas given to Gen
Custer by Gen. Sheridan, and was en-.
trusted to Mrs. Custer by her lamented
husband. The table on which the sur.
render of Lees army vas signed was pre-.
sented TO Mrs. Custer by Gen. Sheridan
and is now at her home in Monroe
Michigan.
cannot refrain from quoting the fol.
lowing sentences from Mrs. Clusters let.
ter to Col. Sims: "Gen. Custer gave ii
(the towel TO me at the close Of the wal
and have kept it in an iron safe since
then. II has never been exhibited OF
used in any way that could offend the
most sensitive spirit. Gen. Custer taught
me early in my married life to look upon
our unfortunate war BIB too sacredly sac
to admit of any feeling save that Of sor.
row and regret that one brothers. hand
should be compelled To be raised against
another"
When visiting West Point last summer
saw the massive bronze statue of Gen
Custer. It stands near the summit o.
the heights upon which are located the
buildings of the National Military Acad.
emy, guarding one of the principal ap
proches to the grounds. and overlook Ing
the beautiful Hudson. II is designed tc
perpetuate the memory of the great cav.
airy commander whose intrepid bravery
on more than one bloody field of battle