The Brookhaven leader., 1885-05-28
THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
Gen. }. Il. Gordon on Lees Surrender at
Appomattox.

As Gen. ordon's wing was the one
upon which deNoyed the battle which
daylight would BRING, he thus became
the central figure around whiyh the
events oi the day should rcN olive, The
attack WAS maze, said Gen. Gordon.
the old freight flashing in his eye, we
took the works and hid pressed the
enemy lack when n letter signed by
zen. &c was borne o me. 1t Sta'eI
that Gnder II tag of truce he was in ne
gotlaton with Gen. Grant, and that |
might inform the edCrai commander -
whom supposed was Gen Ord Of the
fact. Calling up my chief Of staff ! or
dcred him 10 carry lag OF true" INTO
the Federal lines with the informal Oh.
"Iid he carry it
"Well, said Gen Gordon with q
grim smile, not Tag truce, exactly
we had 10 r.ag, and it was Impossible
to procure one. told him to get a
stick and tie white handkerchief to
it,
There is not han kerchief in Tn"
whole command, he said
-. . hen tear off Il piece of your white
shirt
al have no white shirt.
Then get some one C,ses white
shirt
There is rot white shirt in the
whole army, tie replied, in utter de-
spar.
"Finally he got hold of something
white, and rode into the ederal ne~.
where he founi Gen. Sheridan in com
mIni, instead of cen I'd. Gen.
Sheridan Immediately sent an officer
into ny lines to demand our immediate
and uncond tional surrender.
"'tIire Gen. Sheridan my cOmp.i-
ments, was my response, and say 10
nm that wished mcrcl, To inform ulro
OF The existence OF the Hag o. truce, and
was not prepared to Surrender.
IN afcW moments o served cloud
of dust tncireling do en- lor>emen.
Y 18th my staff rode oat to meet the
party, and found it TO lie Gen. Sheridan
and staff. who hal ridden within Oui
Inns Again Sheridan demanded Of
me in person that ] surrender Upon
my e. hltiting to lin Gen. Lees letter
it was agreed that firing should cease:
that no advan, shoud be made III
either line, While We ShOuld wait the
result of the negotiations under the ii&C
of truce between l,n Grant and Gen.
Lee After that there was som" de
sIltory firing, but it was soon checked.
In "a few hours came the final message
that terms OF Surrender had been agreed
upon.
TOW we're the terms of Surrender
agreed Il on.'
Gen. ce appointed Gen. ong-
.Olf 70
meet officers similarly appointed 10y
Gen Grant, who should agree upon the
language of the parole, and the details
or the surrender of arms, etc We met
III 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
Did you meet Grant upon that occa'
sionP
"Oh, YES" was Gen Gordon's reply,
as he stretched his arms out over the
back of the scttee upon which he was
sitting II was very much impressed,
with the mOdesty and unpretendiIg
character of the man. He wore no
uniform except the blue blouse, over
coat and hreecheS not even sword to
betoken his rank His manner WAS
most gracious and courteous. Not a
word escaped him which did not give
evidence of his purpose Of treating the
defeated ConfederatHS with every mark
of respect and consideration. Indeed,
this spirit seemed to actuate all the
tederlu officers with one exception.
They made constant reference to the
battles in which the COnfederateS had
been victorious, and avoided those in
which the FeIerals had heen successful.
with all their courtesy, however,
and all their kindness, the trial to the
officers and the men was one of the
greatest through which brave army
has ever had TO pass. Men kissed their
arms as they stacked them to be de-
livered up. Many color bearers wept
bitterly as they folded their battle flags,
and, indeed, there was scarcely a dry
eve when the realization came upon
them that it was all over.