Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-14
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
SHERIDAN AND GORDON.
Tho Confederate Generals Conference
WITH IIIlIc PM Mt Appomnttox.

bcncful OOruOn, now GOVcrnOr o
Georgia, tells this story OF Sheridan a
Appomattox:
"a cavalry officer camo 10 mo from
Sheridan with flag of truce. He wa,
handsome fellow and very polite
Snluting, he said
"1s this General Gordon? am the
bearer OF General Shcridan's compli
mcnts, and he demands your uncondi
tional surrender
"Wcll, Colonel (or whatever | saw
his rank wos), answered, you will
please return my compliments to Gen.
oral Sheridan and say that shall moi
surrender
Then he said, you will DO anuihi.
lated in half an hour. We have you
completely surrounded
"Vcry we'll, sir replied, 4 am
probably as well aware of my situa-
tion as you are, but that is my ans
wcr.'
"'You don't mean thatr ho ex-
claimed.
"'Ycs do SIR l said, the only thing
propose TO say is what have already
said through my staff oiiicer-that n
flag OF truce is in existence between
General Lee and General Grant. Twas
not going TO surrender because knew
it was coming. was not going to let
Sheridan capture me in that way
"'Thcn you will be annihilnted,' he
said, and rode away.
"While ! had been sitting there wait
ing, the firing had almost ceased. The
infantry on my hanks had not changed
their position much, as they had been
moving up very slowly. was firing
artillery at the time, so as to check
them. In a few minutes Sheridan him
self came up with his staff. He was
riding an immense black horse. / will
never forget how he looked with his
short legs sticking out on either side.
We had very much the same sort Of
parley as had occurred between the
other officers and myself. Indeed, the
language was almost literal repcti-
ton. Finally, ! said to him: General,
| hardly think il worth while for us to
purley j have made up my mind not
to surrender, and shall accept any con-
sequences that may follow its determi-
nation. | wish simply to give you the
information which was sent me by Cen
eral Lee. All know is that there is a
flag of truce in existence, and / only
know the bare fact
"'Did you say that you have letter
from General Lec?' he asked.
81 handed him the letter.
ale looked it over and said: Il sup
pose, then, the only thing we can do is
to cease firing
al think So | replied.
"He then said TO me: II you will
withdraw your forces TO certain place
will withdraw mine and wait to see
what happens
I'VE got down off our horses, and,
taking n seat on the grass, talked there
for some time. In the meantime, had
forgotten that early in the morning |
had detached n force to go back and
over on the brow of hill to prevent
the cavalry from coming around
between Longstreet and my
self. While we were sitting
on the grass heard roll of mus
ketry, and looking over to where the
force had been placed, saw it firing into
some cavalry that had ridden down in
that direction.
What does this mcanP' cried Sheri-
dan.
Il am very sorry about it, re-
piled, as | explained the circumstances,
and he and | each sent an officer over
the hill TO stop the firing.
40 saved Shcridun's life that morn
ing beyond question. One of my sharp
shooters was a sour sort OF fellow,
a blue coat it was his duty to shoot at
it. had the sharpshooters around me
when Sheridan came up with the flag
Of truce, and / saw this fellow draw his
gun. What do you mean?' ] cried,
this is flag OF truce He did not pay
the slightest attention 10 me, and was
just about firing when / knocked up his
gun, and it went off over Sheridan's
head. Let him stay on his own side,
General, he muttered.
General Sheridan and sat on the
ground, close to the brick house where
Lee and Grant met, in the orchard.
had passed the house in the morning.
We chaffed each other Il little in the
course of the conversation, Sheridan
saying: Il believe have had the pleasure
Of meeting you before / replied that
we had had some little acquaintance in
the Valley of Virginia He turned the
thread of the conversation to some guns
he had received in the valley. Sheri-
dan had captured nearly all OF Early's
artillery and some more had been sent
10 him from Richmond. Some wag had
written with chalk on one of those guns:
Respectfully consigned to Major-Gen-
cral Sheridan through General Early
Sheridan had heard of this, and he was
very much amused at it; but whether
he ever saw such words upon a gun
10 not know. When he was through
with his story ] suggested that also
had two guns which | could consign to
him, and with the more grace because
they had como from him that very
SHERIDAN came with full staff and
with me about an hour and n
hulf. My recollection is that We stayed
lt that place until we received iuforma-
lion that General Lee and General
Grant had agreed. ~ Y. World,
LINCOLN AND SHERIDAN.
An Eyewitness Description of Their
Meeting at City Point.
Opposition now being at an end, it