The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-20
Very respectfully yours,
BRYAN GRIMES
Letter from Gen. j. b. Gordon
New YORK, Nav u.

NEW IoRh, NAY y, lSS-.
GEN. BRYAN GRIMES, n. g.:
My DEAR GENERAL Yours asking
my recollection of the participation of
your Division IN the last days battle at
Appomattox &. II. would rave been an
swered before left my home In Georgia.
but for circumstances beyond my control.
Ii is a .ource of pleasure to me not only
to do this but also to express my sincere
appreciation OF your valuable services
during that time when 1t was my fortune
to command the 81 Corps Army North
ern Virginia, to which your Division was
attached. When was first placed in
command of the Corps in the Fall of
1864 at or near Petersburg, you will re
member that you were detached from the
other Divisions and did not join them
until a short time before the attack upon
Gen. Grants lines in front of Peters
burg. You participated in the battles
then and during the terrible days and
nights which followed prior to and after
the breaking of our lines by Grants
army, as well as upon the retreat But
it is of the last fight of the Army oI
Northern Virginia IL which you bore so
conspicuous a part at Appomattox c. II
that you ask my recollection. 1t would
be difficult, my deal General, to forget
your anxiety to get you Division well
up and compact on the evening of the
Sth of April, the day proceeding thai
last battle and the final surrender of the
army, az well as our assurance to me
that if allowed to rest and gather up
your broken down men, you would be on
hand at any time during the night of the
Sth or morning of the 9th, to take part
in any movement which might be order
ed. My consent you will remember was
obtained that you should 90 into camp
and rest your men, but before day on the
morning of the 9Th of April, you were at
the front ready to participate with your
Division in the last effort to be made by
the army of Gen. Lee.
The plan agreed upon at the council
Of war held at Gen. Lees Headquarters
during the night OF the 9Th between
Gen. Lee, Gen Pendleton commanding
the artillery, Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee com
mandlng the cavalry, Gen. Longstreet
and myself who commanded the two
wings of his army, was this My com
mand, consisting Of about one naif of
the army. with the cavalry, was to at:
tack the enemy's cavalry in front Of Ap
pomattox G. H. and ATTEMPT to cut a
way out, and Longstfeet and the aftll-
lery not engaged VITA my command and
the wagon train, was To follow Ii ua>
supposed that nothing more than the
euemy's cavalry was in our front, and
though largely outnumberiug the Whole
command and the cavalry Of Gen lee.
yet it was supposed, sthe result proved,
hat Sheridan cavalry could be beaten
back. 1t was dnrinr the preparation f1r
this final move III the early morning of
the 9th, that you offered to make the
attack in frcLt.
Your DIVISION with the other troops
we're placed il in while Gen. FItz Hugh
Lee ; cavalry moved to our right. The
attack Was made ard proved eminertlv
successful, resulting in the capture Of
the enemy's works which lie had tempo.
rarily thrown up in our front, and the
taking Of six pieces Il think Of his ar
tillery. You were not hated for a con
siderable time but pressed steadily for
ward to the front, until | ordered you to
rear, upon receiving intelligence from
Gen. K. +. Lee that a flag OF truce was