The National tribune., 1885-10-01
The last Man Killed.

The Last Man Killed.
To THE EDITOR: ! claim that Co. 4, I'd Ohio
Cav. lost the last man killed in the Army of the
Potomac The flag of truce struck our command
while we were skrting around Lees army for
the purpose of capturing his wagon-traln, and
by Gen. Custer had been sent to Grant, leaving
our division standing in column i'll the road,
almost directly south of the main body of Lees
men, who lay in the little valley east from Ap-
pomattoX &. II. Not over GOO yards from us,
and northeast, was q Confederate battery,
double -shotted with grape and canister, an
Alabama regiment lying along the hillside 10
the rear and left as a support. This battery
was placed across a ridge or hog back, along
top of which ran private road; and 1t was an
hour at least after the flag OF truce had been
received when we saw column OF cavalry
coming up this road IN rear CT the battery, but
aid not give it second thought Finding
that there seemed to be no intention OF moving
us, nearly all men were in the woods,
leaving horses i'll the road, anxious to see what
was being done over at the Courthouse, and
peerng down toward the artillery, most of
them being 100 to 200 yards from their horses.
We saw the officer commanding the cavalry
halt and talk awhile with the artillery officer,
then move toward us; saw him form his col
umn into line facing rs, yet never dreamt OF
danger and it really needed the second volley
is certain they were not over 400 yards from
US. Lucky was it that the firing was done on
horseback. As soon as convinced that we were
the target at which they were aiming, we re-
turned the fire; nearly all had their seven
shooters with them. We were soon ordered TO
our horses, and found the boys with them had
already opened a dozen gaps i'll the tall fence
south Of the road, wisely preparing tor cmcr-
gCncies. In far less time than it takes to write
of it. every man in his saddle, ana = by
fours left the column was formed into line of
battle facing our foe, and forward was the
command: moment more, trOt, march was
heard and away we went. The commander of
the Confederate cavalry needed but one look
as we formed line, to see that he had stirred
up a hornets nest, and turned tail going back
through the battery much faster than he came;
after ordering one of his men TO hoist a tiag
of truce. | Judge, at least, that the man so
doing was acting under orders, for he was too
frightened to talk, yet did his duty mantully.
for, indeed, his was most dangerous duty
not only exposed to our fire, but he doubtless
well knew his commander had violated flag
of truce and knew not what we i'll our anger
might do. Small time was given him To pre-
pare, yet he had managed to get piece OF
broken limb, 80 inches long, to top of which
he had tied :, rag of some kind that might have
been white some day and even now answered
its purpose, bringing our line to a sudden stop
Scores crowded around the bareheaded bearer
of the rag, seeking some explanation, but he
could give none even had he been cool and col
lected, instead of too frightened to talk.
/ have always held this flag bearer to have
been brave man, a man that fully understood
his danger. vet did his duty. Our officers
sought information from the officer III com
mand of the battery, the cavalry commander
disappearing suddenly with his whole COM
mand excepting the flag bearer and from him
learned that he had fully Informed the cavalry
officer that there was flag of truce in, looking
to a surrender of Lees army. The cavalry
commander informed him that he did not care
fig for the flag of truce; that South Caroiinl-
ans never surrendered, and in spite of the re-
peated warnings of the artillery officer he
passed on. " But" added the battery officer, Il
think Virginia applcjack was responsible for
much of his folly" Truly the SANE might be
said to be responsibl bic for thousands of lives
during those four years.
| have said that ali of US stopped at sight of
the flag. Two men, however. Jailed to see it
and never noticed the haltng OF their COM
mand but kept right OH through the battery, a
cannon few feet from them each side; but
here one glanced back, and seeing we had
stopped came back; the other First Duty Ser@'t
Ben Wherry of Co Al kept on, and was never
seen again alive. Between noon and / o'clock
p. m. the Confederate battery and its support
was withdrawn, and then the missing man was
sought and found dead beside his horse, both
shot III dozen places and bayomctCd in prob
ably more; and right on that hog-bacll lies
Ben Wherry, as good a soldier as ever sat
horse, an officer the boys would'alway5 choose
to command a pickett post.
This was the story told by the officers OF the
Alabama regiment, and there was no reason to
doubt It's truth: They SAID that he rode up and
demanded their surrender and the officers OF
the regiment laughed at him, a lone man, ask
ing the surrender of an entire regiment, and
they began poking fun at Ben. This seemed
to anger him greatly. Their regimenal flag
stood close to his left hand, stuck in the
ground. 10 catch its staff, pluck it up, put
spurs to his horse was but moments work,
but it was his last act. Man and beast went
down. Many Of the men, in their anger, used
their bayonets on the offending man and inno-
cent beast ere reSaiuing command OF them
selves.
II this should ever reach the eye of q single
member Of that Alabama regiment, | earnestly
ask him to give the facts of poor Ben Wherry's
death.
1t must have been well on towards noon
when he was killed, and | believe was the last
man on the Federal side killed by the Army Of
Northern Virginia. Can any one give later?
r.. HANNAFoRD, Ord Serg't, Co N, I'd Ohio
Cav, CINCINNATI O.