The bee., 1883-01-27

toward Lee. During the night Gen,
Ord's infantry reached the field and
took the position won by Custer. On
the morning of the 9th Sheridan moved
his whole cavalry command out over
the fields south of the Courthouse
Gen. Clusters division in advance. and
received the fire of the enemy's ar
tiIlery.
We had reached a favorable point
Tor charge at what appeared to be
the centre Of the rebel line, when an
officer galloped cut to us, with the truce
IN his hand, and said to Gen. Custer:
zen. Lee requests suspension of hos
tllltlcS." Custer instantly halted and.
turning to me, by his side, said: go
With this officer and say for me to Gen.
Lee that | cannot stop this charge un-
less he announces an unconditional
surrender, as | am not in sole command
on this field" The officer gave his
name as Major Sims, of Longstreet's
staff. and hurriedly piloted me through
the rebel lines, but few rods in our
front, where artillerymen stood in posi-
tion by their shotted guns and piles of
ammunition. On the way to Lee we
were met by Gen. Gordon, with group
OF many other prominent officers, who
stated that the request for suspen-
sion of hostilities was, in fact, uncon-
d1tlonal surrender, that Lee had Just
rode away to the rear to find Grant,
and that the infantry line of battle
closing IN on them from the west must
be halted and further bloodshed stopped.
L consented to take the same truce and
stop the infantry if Major Sims would
accompany me. He did SO, and we
both, doubtless little warmed up and
out OF breath, explained to Gems. Ord
and Chamberlain the situation, when
their lines halted and cheer after cheer
rolled from right to left.
At this point Sims and myself parted,
he TO return TO Gen. Gordon, Il short
distance, and in full view over an open
field, and / to return to Gen. Custer,
where the ground was not open and
the rattle of the carbine was still head,
and, Of course, the truce in hand was
still needed. On reaching Gen. Custer
| learned that a Confederate cavalry
commander had been trying to charge
through our lines on the right and had
not succeeded. | had no further use
for the truce and handed it to Gen.
Custer, who more than any other person
was entitled to possession of the relic,
as he had done most toward bringing
about the surrender. Gen. Sheridan
never saw the truce when in use, never
possessed it, and, Of course, never gave
it to Gen. or Mrs. Custer. Mrs. Custer
has recently written me for its history,
and gives the address Of Col Sims, to
whom have written.
| have not seen the article referred
TO as written by him and printed in
the Charleston paper. and do not know
how anxious he is to recover the relic,
but trust that he and all our ex-Confed-
crate friends will cheerfully accord to
Mrs. Custer the right&ul custody of it,
and would remind them that it was
her gallant husband, at the head Of the
Third Cavalry Division, who led the
advance in every battle in Virginia
during the six months closing the war,
Ill pieces of field artillery,
65 battle flags, 10000 prisoners of war,
Z General officers, and never
lost gun or a color.
l.. w. WHITAKER,
Late Lieutenant-C Colonel First Connect
icut Cavalry, Acting Assistant ms
pector-General Third Cavalry Divi-
sion, and Brevet Brigadier-General
United States Volunteers.
D. c., Jan. 9Th, 1883. |