The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-21

us from a skirt of timber to our right, and
! distant not much over three hundred yards
| | halted for moment and, taking of my
nat, called out that the flag was being vio-
| lated, but could not stop the firing which
now caused US all to take shelter in ravine
running parallel to the ridge we were on,
and down which we then traversed. As we
| approached the courthouse, gentle ascent
had to be made. | was in advance, followed
by asergeant carrying my battle-fag. Within
one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards
from the courthouse and Confederate
lines some of the men in their ranks
brought down their guns to aim on US,
and great effort was made by their officers
| to keep them from firing. l halted, and
hearing some noise behind, turned in
the saddle, and saw a Confederate sol
der attempting to take my battle-flag
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. l remained
stationary moment after these events, then
calling staff officer directed him to go over
TO the group of Confederate officers and de-
mand what such cohdnct meant Kind
apologies we're made, and we advanced. The
superior officers met were General J. b. Cor
don and General Cadmus NJ Wilcox, the
latter an old army officer AS soon as the
hrSt greeting was over, furious firing COM
menced in front of our own cavalry, from
whom we had only few minutes before sep
arated. General Gordon seemed to be some
what disconnected by it. remarked to him:
General Gordon, your men fired on me as |
was coming over here, and undoubtedly they
have done the same to Mertts and Clusters
commands. We might just as well let them
fightit out"
SOUTH cARoLINIANs WHO NEVER SURRENDER.
To this proposition General Gordon did not
accede. l then asked, "Why not send staff
officer and have your people cease firing?
They are violating the flag"
He said: 81 have no staff officer to send"
L replied, 81 will let you have one of NINE"
and calling for Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen.
he was directed to report to Gen. Gordon and
carry his orders The orders were to go to
General Geary. who was in command of a
small brigade of South Carolina cavalry, and
ask him TO discontinue the firing. Lieutenant
Allen dashed off with the message, but on
delivering it to General Geary was taken pris-
oner, with the remark from that officer that
he did not care for white flags, that South
Carolinians never surrendered 1t was about
this time that Merritt, getting impatient at
the supposed treacherous firing ordered a
charge of portion of his command. While
Generals Gordon and Wilcox were engaged
in conversation with me, cloud of dust, a
wild hurrah, flashing of sabers indicated
charge, and the CALCULATIONS Of my staff Off
GERS were heard Look! Merritt has ordered
n charged" The fight of Geary's brigade fol-
lowed; Lieutenant Allen was thus released.
The last gun had been fired, and the last
charge made in the Virginia campaign.
While the scenes thus related were taking
place, the conversation 1 now speak of was
occurring between General Gordon and my
self. After the first salutation, General Cor
don remarked: General Lee asks for a sus-
pension OF hostilities pending the negotia-
ton which he has been having for the last
day and night with General Grant" l re-
joined: Il have been constantly Informed
OF the progress of the negotiations, and think
it singular that while SUCH negotiations are
going on, General Lee should have continued
his march and attempted to break through
my lines this morning with the view
OF escaping. l can entertain no terms
except the condition that General
Lee will surrender to General Grant
on his arrival here. 1 have sent for
him. If these terms are not accepted, we
will renew hostilities" General Gordon re-
Piled General Lees army is exhausted.
There is no doubt of his surrender to General
Grant on his arrival"
General Wilcox, whom l knew quite well,
he having been captain of the company to
watch was attached rs a cauet In the mill
tary academy, then stepped to his horse, and
taking hold of the saddle-bags, said, in a
ocular way
"Here, Sheridan, take these saddle-bags;
they have one soiled shirt and a pair OF
drawers. You have burned everything else
1 had IN the world, and think you are en-
titled to this also"
He was abiding, of course, to the destruc-
ton of the baggage trains which had been
going on for some days.
When the terms above referred to were set
tied, each army agreed to remain statu quo
until the arrival of General Grant, whom
Colonel Newhall, my jutant-general. had
gone for. Generals Gordon and Wilcox then
returned to see General Lee, and promised to
come back in about thirty minutes, and dur
ing that time General Ord joined me at the
courthouse. At the end of thirty or forty
minutes General Gordon returned in COM
pany with General Longstreet The latter,
who commanded Lees rear guard back on the
Farmville road seemed somewhat alarmed lest
General Meade, who was following up from
Farmville, might attack, not knowing the
condition of affairs at the front. To prevent
this, [ proposed to send my chief-of-staff,
General J. w. Forsyth, accompanied by
Confederate officer, back through the Con
federate army and inform General Meade OF
the existing state of affairs He at once
started accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, OF
General Longstreet's staff. met the advance
of the Army of the Potomac, and communi-
Gated the conditions.
[The scene incident to the signing of the
conditions was detailed in the Journal of
Tuesday