Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-22

halt, and a retrograde movement began
to a ridge about a mileto his rear. Short
ly afterward / returned from Gen. Ord
to the front, making for Gen. Merritt's
battle-fag on the right flank of the line.
On reaching it, the order to advance was
given, and every guidon was bent to the
front, and as we swept by to the left OF
the enemy's line of battle he opened a
heavy fire from artillery. No heed was
paid to the deadly missiles, and, with the
widest wells, we soon reached a point
some distance to his right and nearly OPP
posite A~ppomattoI court house. Beyond
us, in a low valley, lay Lee and the rem
nant of his army. There did not appear
to be much organization, except in the
advanced troops under Gen. Gordon,
whom we had been fighting, and a rear
guard under Gen. Longstreet, still fur
Their up the valley. Formations were
Immediately commenced, to make a bold
and sweeping charge down the grassy
slope, when an aid-de-camp from Custer,
filled with excitement, hat in hand,
dashed up to me with the message from
his chief: "Lee has surrendered! Do
not charge; the white flag is up!" Or
ders were given to complete the forma-
ton, but not to charge.
Looking to the left, to Appomattox
court house, a large group was seen near
to the lines of confederate troops that had
fallen back to that point. Gen. Custer
had not come back, and, supposing that
he was with the group at the court house,
l moved on a gallop down the narrow
ridge, followed by my staff. The court
house was, perhaps, three-fourths of a
mile distant. We had not gone far be-
fore a heavy fire was opened on us from a
skirt of timber to our right, and distant
not much over three hundred yards. /
halted for a moment, and, taking off my
hat, called out that the flag was being vio-
lated, but
COULD o sTOP THE FIRING,
which now caused us all to take shelter in
a rav;ne running parallel to the ridge we
we're on, and down which we then trav-
eled. AS we approached the court house,
a gentle ascent had to be made. l was in
advance, followed by a sergeant carrying
my battle flag. Within 100 to $50 yards
off from the court house and confederate
lines, some of the men in their ranks
brought down their guns to an aim on us,
and great effort was made by their Off
GERS to keep them from firing. / halted,
and hearing some noise behind turned in
the saddle, and saw a confederate soldier
attempting to take my battle-lag from
the color bearer. This the sergeant had
no idea of submitting to, and had drawn
his saber to cut the man down. A word
from me caused him to return his saber
and take the flag back to the staff officers
who were some little distance behind. !
remained stationary a moment after these
events; then, calling a staff officer, di-
rected him to go over to the group of con-
federate officers and demand what such
conduct meant. Kind apologies were made
and we advanced. The superior officers
met were Gen. j. B. Gordon and Gen.
Cadmus M. Wilcox, the latter an old
army officer. AS soon as the first greet.
ing was over a furious firing commenced
in front of our own cavalry, from whom
we had only a few minutes before sepa.
rated. Gen. Gordon seemed to be some
what Disconnected by it. remarked to
him: "Gen. Gordon, your men fired on
me as | was coming over here, and un.
doubtedly they have done the same tc
Merritt's and Clusters commands. We
might Just as well let them fight it out.
To this proposition Gen. Gordon did moi
accede. / then asked, ''Why not sent
a staff officer and have your people cease
fringl They are violating the flag
He said, 81 have no staff officer tc
send" / replied, 81 will lot you have
one of nine and calling for Lieut.. Van
dsrbilt Allen he was directed to report h
Gen. Gordon and carry his orders. Tn
orders were to go to Gen. Geary, win
was in command Of a small brigade o
South Carolina cavalry, and ask him t.
discontinue the firing. Lieut.. Allei
dashed off with the message, but, OF
, delivering it to Gen. Geary was takel
prisoner, with the remark from tina
officer that he did not care for whit
flags; that South C%arolinaians never SUI
rendered.
Q 1t was about this time that Merritt
, getting inpatient at the supposed treacf
erous firing, ordered a charge of a porto
o of his command. While Generals Gol
t don and Wilcox were engaged in CONVEX
sation with me, a cloud Of dust,
O A WILD HURRAH,
t a flashing of sabers, indicated n charge
and the CALCULATIONS of my staff Officer
were heard, "Look! Merritt has ordere
a charged" The flight Of Geary's brigaG
= y followed; Lieut.. Allen was thus released
" The last gun had been fired, and the Ia
charge made in the Virginia campaign.
y While the scenes thus related were tai
!, ing place, the conversation | now spea
u of was occurring between Gen. Gordc
!. and myself. After the first s~alutatiol
u Gen. Gordon remarked: Gen. Lee asl
/ for a suspension of hostilities pending Il
o negotiations which he has been havir
i for the last day and night with Ge'
" Grant" / ~rejoined: 81 have been CO.
: stantly informed Of the progress Of II
y negotiations, and think 1t singular tn
y while such negotiations are going on Ge
% Lee should have continued his march al
attempted to break through my lines I'll
= morning with the view of escaping.
y can entertain no terms except the conc
y ton that Gen. Lee will surrender to &c
., Grant on his arrival here. / have Sc
y for him. If these terms are not accept,
o. we will renew hostilities." Ge
u hausted. There is no doubt of his s,
1ett render to Gen. Grant on his arrival"
y. Gen. Wilcox, whom | knew quite We
u he having been captain of the compa
~ to which | was attached as a cadet at t
~, ~ military academy, then stepped to
~ horse, and taking hold of the saddle baI
w said in a %jocular way: "Here, Sheridl
:. take these saddle bags; they have o
soiled shirt and II pair of drawers. Y
10 have burned everything else had in I
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