The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-05-16

history, as we'll us to great COM
mander, that General Grants every act
toward General Lee and toward his
army at Appomattox was marked by
q degree OF courtesy and generosity
which impressed every confederate
and which reflects great honor upon
himself and upon the American name.
Very respectfully,
j. B. GORDON.
THE LAST SHOT AND THE SURRENDER.
AS General Gordon's wing was the
one upon which deyolved the battle
which daylight woJld bling, he thus
became the central, figure around
which the events Of the day should
revolve. "The attack was made"
sad General Gordon, the old f:e-light
flashing in his eyes, eve took the
works and had pressed the enemy
back when letter signed by General
Lee was borne to me. 1t stated that
under flag of truce he was in nego-
tiation with General Grant, and that
| might inform the federal command
er-whom | supposed was General
Ord--of the fact, Calling up my chief
OF staff | ordered him to carry flag of
truce into the federal lines with the
information"
odd he carry it?'
"Well," said General Gordon with a
grim smile, mot flag of truce, ex-
actly-we had no flag, and it was inn
possible to procure one. l told him
to get stick and tic a white handker-
chief to it.
"'There is not a handkerchief in the
whole command, he said.
Then tear off apiece of your white
shirt
al have no white shirt
"'Then get some one else's white
shirt
"Thcre is not white shirt in the
whole army he replied, in utter de-
spai".'
FINALLY he got hold of something
white, and rode into the federal lines,
where he found General Sheridan in
command instead of General Ord.
General Sheridan Immediately sent
an officer into my liz es to demand our
immediate and uncOndi ional Surren-
der.
" Give General Sheridan my COM
pliments," WAS my response, sand say
to him that fwished merely to in
form him Of the existence OF the flag
Of truce, and was not prepared to sur
render
In few moments | observed a
cloud OF dust cncircling dozen
horsemen. With my staff | rode out
to meet the party, and found it to be
General Sheridan and staff, who had
ridden within our lines. Again Sher-
idan demanded OF me in person that
we surrender. Upon my exhibiting
to him General Lees letter, it was
agreed the firing should cease; that
no advance should be made in either
line, while we would await the re-
suit OF the negotiations Of the flag of
truce between General Grant and GEN
eral Lee. After that there was some
more dcsultory fighting, but it was
soon checked. In few hours came
tho final message that terms of sur
render had been agreed upon.
Chow were the terms of surrender
agreed upon?"
General Lee appointed General
Longstreet, General Pendleton and
myself to meet officers similarly APP
pointed by General Grant, who should
agree upon the language ofthe parole,
and the detail of the surrender of
arms, etc. We met in the brick house
IN which Lee and Grant had met, and
had no difficulty in putting into shape
the business upon which we had
met"
GENERAL GRANTS BEARING.
"Did you meet General Grant on
that occasion?'
"Oh, yes" was General Gordon's re-
ply, as he stretched his arms out
over the back Of the setteeupon which |
he was sitting. ~ was very much
with the modcsty and UNI
pretending character of the man. lie
wore no uniform except the blue