The Indianapolis journal., 1888-08-07
INCIDENTS IN HIS CAREER.

A Story of Lees Surrender-Sheridan's In
subordin.tiou st West Point-His Sword.
William E. Curtis in Chicago News.
The General used to love to tell story about
that last campaign against Lee, and the Incl
dents of the surrender. 1t will be remembered
that he headed off Lee at Appomattox Court
house. and captured eleven trains of supplies
which were waiting for him there. When Lee
found out that he had no stores nor ammuui-
tion for his army. and that his retreat was cut
off, he sent flag Of truce which Custer re-
ceived and conducted to Sheridan. The two
armies lay on their arms waiting for Grant,
who was on his way to the front In the
meantime Sheridan and some OF his staff
started to ride over toward Appomattox Court
house, when they we're fired upon by regi-
ment of rebels half concealed among some
underbrush. The General and his party waved
their hats toward the place where the shots
came from and made all sorts OF demonstrations
to silence the unexpected and murderous attack.
but to no purpose. Finally the confederate off,
Ger who brought the flag and Major Allen Of
Sheridans staff, went over to see what the mat
ter was. They found a South Carolina regiment
whose colonel, in grandiloquent tone, informed
them that the war wasn't over aud that he and
his regiment did not recognize the authority of
General Lee 20 make terms for peace.
'.Bs Gawd, SIR" exclaimed this gallant john
n.y. "a South Carolinian never surrenders!'
The two officers rode back to General Sheri-
dan, who with his party had retired under COW
err and reported to him the situation. The Gen.
eral called Custer and told him there was one
regiment over in the brush which had not got
enough of il, and it would be well for him to
60 over there and "snuff it out"
Custer ordered his bugler to sound forward"
and at the head of q regiment dashed across the
interval which lay between the two armies. which
were drawn mp in long lines and stood at rest
Te hao frl Aaf
spring day-and the sight of that regiment, with
Clusters long, tawny hair as their banner, dash
ing at full Rallop across the fields evoked cheer
from both armies. In the meantime Sheridan
had resched the courthouse, where he met Gen.
Gordon, recently Senator from Georgia and
General Wilcox, who had been his cassmate at
West Point, but whom he had not seen for
many years. Wilcox has since been q door
party was sitting on the steps Of the courthou
chatting famiiarly over the situation, heavy
musketry was heard in the distance. Gordon
looked rp in anxiety and alarm. and asked one
of his aids to ride over in that direction and
find out what it meant
"Never you mind. general" said Sheridan
''It's all right. / know what it means. Custer
is over there having some fun with o South Car
Gilman who never surrenders.'
Gordon insisted upon sending the officer to
stop the fight: but before he got there the
doughty colonel had presented Custer with
very much battered sword. 1t was the last gasp
of the Army Of Northern Virginia.
But how was it, then, that you were not per-
mitted to graduate with your classp
The General smiled and said: II had q fuss
with cadet officer named Terrill, which re-
suited in my suspension. thought was right
at the time, but experience has taught me that
/ was wrong aad ought to have been punished.
II was pretty tough to be set back, though. L
was suspended for a whole year, but was
allowed to enter the next class below me, and
graduated with that"
what was the fuss aboutl"
'Terrill, don't you know. was a corporal and
was private. One night in November. 1851.
We were out on dress parade, and he yelled at
me in the most offensive manner. reprimanding
me by name when L hadn't done any
thing to give cause for it. 1t made me mad.
and when he got around in the rear Of
the line 1 went for him with my bayonet; but he
didn't report me for that and would have passed
it over. but after the parade was dismissed and
we got back to the barracks attacked him.
think l could have whipped him II we had been
left alone, although he was bigger than l; but
the other fellows separated Us, and was report.
ed. tried, and sentenced to suspension for the
rest OF the academic year. 1t was serious
thing, you see, to attack a cadet officer the way
did. II was the worst sort of insubordinatio
but Terrill, you see, didn't know how to treat
people, and to be reprimanded the way was
for no reason whatever made me very angry.
lost all control Of myself"
"What became of Terrific"
"He was Southern man, Virginian, be-
heve, but he remained in the Union army when
his State seeded. and was good soldier. He
Was killed at the battle Of Perryville, KY, in
1862, beisve.n
-
"About the last time" said Senator Mander-
son, ''that had a talk with him was in his Of
fee but short time ago. My wife was with
me. and picking up straight sword in it's scab-
bard. he put it into her hands with as much
tenderness as though he was handling an in
fant."
There be said, is the sword that carried
through all the war. l have noticed occasional
ly, expressions of doubt as to the genuineness
of some of the swords of military men owned by
the government. / determined there should
never be any question about mine, SO. as you
see, haYe had engraved upon the scabbard my
complete military record, showing every posi-
tion have filed and mentioning every engage
ment The sword is one which was captured
very early in the war from blockade runner,
and number Of them were sold by the govern
ment at auction at st. Louis / paid three dol
lars and half for this and il has been a good
one. The scabbard was not so good rs the blade.
SO during the war had this scabbard made"