, 1885-05-15
THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
Gen. j. II. Gordon on Lees Surrender at
APpomattox.

rn. A~pponattoN.
ATLANTA Constitution.
As Gen. Gordon's wing was the one
upon which deyolyed the battle which
daylight would bring, he thus became
the central figure around which the
events of the day should revolve. Tho
attack was made" said Gen. Gordon,
the old freight flashing in his eye, I'VE
took the works and had pressed the
enemy back when n letter signed by
Gen. Lee was borne to me. 1t stated
that under a flag of truce he was in ne
gotiation with Gen. Grant, and that
might inform the Federal commander
whom | supposed vas Gen. Ord-of the
fact. Calling up my chief of staff | or
dered him to carry a flag of truce into
the Federal lines with the information. u
did he carry itf'
"Wcll,n said Gen. Gordon with a
grim smile, not a flag truce, exactly
we had no flag, and it was impossible
to procure n l told him to get a
stick and tie a white handkerchief to
it," n
There is not a handkerchief in the
whole command he said.
Then tear off a piece of your white
shirt
81 have no white shirt
+" Then get some n else's white
shirt
There is not a white shirt in the
whole army he replied, in utter de-
spair.
FINALLY he got hold of something
white, and rode into the Federal lines,
where he found Gen. Sheridan in com
mand, instead Of Gen. Ord. Gen.
Sheridan Immediately sent an officer
into my lines to demand our immediate
and unconditional surrender.
"'Give Gen. Sheridan my compli-
ments, was my response, and say to
him that l wished merely to inform him
of the existence OF the flag of truce. and
was not prepared to surrender.
IN afew moments i observed a cloud
Of dust encircling a dozen horsemen.
" it'll my staff / rode out to meet the
party, and found it to be Gen. Sheridan
and staff, who had ridden within our
lines. Again Sheridan demanded of
me in person that / surrender. Upon
my exhibiting to him Gen. Lees letter,
1t was agreed that firing should cease;
that no advance should be made in
either line, while we should wait the
result Of the negotiations under the flag
of truce between Gen. Grant and Gen,
Lee. After that there was some do
sultory firing, but it was soon checked.
In a few hours came the final message
that terms Of surrender had been agreed
upon.
''lIow we're the terms of surrender
agreed u orr
'Gen. Lee appointed Gen. Long
street, Gen. Pendleton and myself 10
meet officers similarly appointed by
Gen Grant. who should agree upon the
Language of the parole, and the details
for 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 1r
Did you meet Grant upon that occa-
sionf'
"oh, yes" was Gen. Gordon's reply,
rs he stretched his arms out over the
back of the settee upon which he was
sitting. 81 was very much impressed,
with the modesty and unpretendiug
character of the man. He wore no
Uniform except the blue blouse, over
cont and breeches not even a sword to
beloken his rank. His manner was
most gracious and courteous. Not q
word escaped him which did not give
evidence of his purpose of treating the
defeated Confederates with every mark
of respect and consideration. Indeed,
this spirit seemed to actnate all the
Federal officers with one exception.
They made constant reference to the
battles in which the Confederates had
been victorious, and avoided those in
which the Federals had been 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 a brave army
has ever had to pass. Men kissed theil
arms as they stacked them to be do
livered up. Many color bearers wopi
bitterly as they folded their battle flags,
and, indeed, there was scarcely a dry
eye when the realization came upoT
them that it was all over ~