Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18

Looking to the left, to Appomattor
court horse, large group was seen near
by the lines of Confederate troops that
had fallen back to chat point. General
Custer had not come back and supposine
that he was with the group at the court
house, moved on ga'lop down the
narrow ridge, followed by my staff. The
court house was perhaps three fourths OF
mile distant. We had not gone far be.
tore heavy fire was opened on 1s from
a heavy skirt OF timber 10 the right and
distant not much over 300 yards I halt
ed for moment and taking off nv hat.
called out that the flag was being violat-
ed, but could not stop the FREEING, which
now caused Us to take shelter in 8 ravine
running parallel to the bridge we were
on and down which We then travelled. AS
we approached the court house q gentle
ascent had to be made. was in advance.
followed BY q sergeant carving nv bat
tle-hag. Within 100 to 80 wards from
the court house and Confederate line.
some OF the men II their ranks hrouuht
down their guns to an aim on rs ana
great effort was made by their officers TO
keep them from firing. I halted, and.
hearing some noise behind, turned in thu
saddle and saw Confederate soldier at
tempting TO take my battle flag from the
color bearer. This the sergeant had
no idea OF submitting TO, and had
drawn his sabre TO cut the man down. A
word from me caused him to return his
sabre and take the flag back to the staff
officers, Who were some distance behind.
I remained stationary moment after
these events, then, calling a staff officer,
directed him 30 go over 70 the group OF
Confederate officers and demand xhas
such Conduct meant. Kind apologies
we're made and we advanced. The
superior officers met were General J. B.
Gordon and General Cadmus NJ. Wilcox,
the latter an old army officer. As soon
as the first greeting was over, a furious
firing began III front of our own cavalry,
from whom we had only a few minutes
separated. General Gordon seemed TO
be somewhat disconnected by it. re-
marked 10 him, General Gordon, your
men fired on me as l was coming over
here, and undoubtedly they have done
'he same so Merritt's and Clusters COM
mands. We might just as we'll let them
fight it out" To this proposition Gen
eral Gordon did not acce6e. I then
asked: "Why not send staff officer and
have your people cease firing? they are
violating the flag" He said: 81 have no
staff officer to send" I replied: II will
let you have one of mine," and calling for
Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen [ directed
him to report TO General Gordon and car
ry his orders. The orders were TO go TO
General Geary, who was in command of
small brigade OF South Carolina cavalry
and ask him to discontinue tke firing.
Lieutenant Allen dashed off with "a mes
sage, but on delivering it TO General
Geary was taken prisoner, with the re-
mark from that officer that he did not
care for white flags, that South CAROLYN
ians never surrendered.
1t was about this time that Merritt, get
ting i'm patient at the supposed treacher-
Gus firing, ordered charge of a portion
of his command. While Generals Gordon
and Wilcox were engaged in conversation
with ne, cloud of dust, wild hurrah, a
flashing of sabres, indicated charge and
the CALCULATIONS of my staff officers were
heard: "Lookl Merritt has ordered a
charge" The flight of Geary's brigade
followed; Lieut.. Allen WAS thus released.
The last gun had been fred and the last
charge made in the Virginia campaign.-
North American Review.