The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-26
Soldiers Budget.
Sheridan's Own Story Of the Last
Charge.

Beyond us, in low valley--near APP
pomatt0X Courthouse, after my flank
movement-lay Lee and the remnant of
his army. There did not appear to be
much organization, except in the adj
vanced troops under General Gordon,
whom we had been fighting, and rear
guard under General Lougstreet, still
further up the valley. Formations were
Immediately begun to make a bold and
sweeping charge down the grassy slope,
when an aid-de-camp from Custer, filed
with excitement, hat in hand, dashed up
to me with message from his chief:
Lee has surrendered Do not charge;
the white flag is upl" Orders were
given to complete the formation, but
not to charge. Looking to the left, TO
AppomatoX Courthouse, a large group
was seen near by the lines of the confed-
crate troops that had fallen back to that
point. General Custer had not come
back, and, supposing that he was with
the group at the Ourt-house, | moved
on at gallop down the narrow ridge,
followed by my staff. The Courthouse
was perhaps three-fourths of mile dis
tant. We had not gone far before a
skirt of timber to the right and distant
not much over three hundred yards. l
halted for moment, and, taking off my
hat, called out that the flag was being
violated, but could not stop the firing,
which now caused US all to take shelter
in a ravine running parallel to the
ridge we were on, and down which we
then travelled. AS we approached the
! Courthouse gentle ascent had to be
made. | was in advance, followed by
a sergeant carrying my battle. flag.
Within one hundred to one hundred
fifty yards from the Courthouse and
confederate lines some of the men
in their ranks brought down their guns
to an aim on us, and great effort was
made by their officers to keep them
from firing. | halted, and, hearing
some noise behind, turned in the saddle
and saw a confederate soldier attempt
ing to take my battefag from the color
bearer. This the sergeant had no idea
of submitting to, and had drawn his
saber TO cut the man down. A word
from me caused him to return his
saber and take the flag back to the
staff officers, who were some little
|
airy a moment after these events, then
calling staff officer, directed him tc
go over to the group of confederate
officers and demand what such conduct
meant. KIM apologies were made anC
we advanced. The superior officer;
met were General j. b. Gordon ant
General Cadmus M. Wilcox, the latter
an old army officer. AS soon as the
first greeting was over a furious firms
began in front of our own cavalry
from whom we had only a few minutes
before separated. General Gordon
seemed to be somewhat Disconnected
by it. | remarked to him, d" Genera
Gordon, your men fired on me as | wa
coming over here, and undoubtedly
they have done the same with Merritt
and Clusters commands. We nigh
just as well let them fight it out" I,
this proposition General Gordon die
not accede. | then asked, Why no
send staff officer and have your peo
pie cease firing? They are violatin!
the hag" He said, I" | have no stat
officer to send" | replied, -" | will lie
Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, | directed
Nun W report 10 UeueTdl OOTuOu dut
carry his orders. The orders were t,
90 to General Geary, who was in com
mand of small brigade of South Caro-
lima cavalry, and ask him to discon
tinue the firing. Lieutenant Allel
dashed off with the message, but on de
livering it to General Geary was take
prisoner, with the remark from tina
officer that he did not care for whit
flags, that South Carolinians never sur
rendered. 1t was about this time tina
Merritt, getting impatient at the SUP
posed treacherous firing, ordered
charge of portion of his command
While Generals Gordon and Wilco
were engaged in conversation with m
a cloud of dust, a wild hurrah and
flashing of sabers indicated a charge
and the CALCULATIONS of my staff officer
were heard: "Look! Merritt has Of
dered charged" The flight of Geary
brigade followed. Lieutenant ALE
was thus released. The last gun ha
been fired and the last charge made i
the Virginia campaign.-North Amer
can Rerielo.