Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-09


Lee in front of Richmond There he had
again the honor to receive the thanks of his
great commander, Gen. Lee Senator 2. B.
Vance describes the occurrence which drew
forth this compliment as follows; During
the Confederate retreat from Petersburg to
Appomattox, when everything was in the
most extreme confusion, the soldiers strag-
Cling hopelessly along, thousands Of them
deliberately falling out of ranks and depart
ing for their homes, the decentralization each
moment increasing, and the Federal
army, immense in numbers, superb
in equipment and flushed with sue
cess, pushing them closely, a stand
was made TO save the provision trains, upon
which the very life of the army depended.
Some artillery was placed in position, and
Gen Lee, seated on his horse upon a COM
manding knoll, sent his staff to rally the
stragglers, now mixed in apparently hope
less and inextricable confusion, upon a line
Presently there came before Gen Lees
earnest gazc a marching column in regular
order It was a small but entire brigade, its
commander at its head. 1t promptly took
position on the line Gen. Lee had designated
As it filed into its appointed position, very
near Gen. Lee, smile of momentary joy
passed over the features of that officer. He
called out to one of his aides: What troops
are thosef 'Cox's North Carolina brigade
was the reply. Then it was 1lat, taking off
his hat, with infinite courtesy and good
feeling, Gen Lee said: God bless gallant old
North Carolina
But the crowning deed of the brigade and
the last act of its general was at Appomat-
tox. 1t was in accordance with the fitness of
things that the brigade whose gallantry sad
won this invocation from Gen Lee should
have made, as it did make, the last charge at
Appomattox, its commander still at its head
Gen. Cox has given me a particularly inter
esting account Of this occasion On the
morning of April o the remnant of the once
proud Army of Northern Virginia. after six
days of retreat and constant fighting, worn
out and discouraged, had reached Appomat-
tox court house 1t hoped to cut through the
Federal army there, secure supplies on the
way from Lynchburg and tnen continue the
retreat sopthwestward This plan would pos
sibly have had a show of success but for the
presence of a cumbrous wagon train and its
attendant delays and exposure However,
she column, with Grimes division in the van
and Longstreet's corps guarding the rear,
formed on slope of hill and awaited the
signal for general advance The Confed-.
crate cavalry were already skirmishing to the
right and front Gen Grimes was called
temporarily to another part of the field,
and Gen. Cox was thus for a time in COM
mand of the division, which Gen. Gordon
ordered him to throw forward The edivisiou
moved forward, up the slope of hill The
color bearers were impetuous, and they bore
81 tl,atr k,r a. g. l.
Before the division had proceeded far Cookies
and Cox's brigades were exposed to mur-
derous artillery fire from battery in front;
but they did not halt, and, charging
promptly, captured it The entire division,
in order to maintain its alignment, united in
the charge at double quick. and thus formed
a perfect line before engaging with small
arms The Federal cavalry attacked fercely,
but they were not supported by infantry and
were forced TO retire Cen Cox at this
stage, while the engagement was general all
along the line, ascertained that the woods in
his front were full Of troops, under command
of Gen Ord Taking commanding position,
a halt was ordered In few minutes the
value OF this information was apparent, for
heavy columns of infantry were seen bear
ing down upon the TANKS and center of the
division, seriously imperiling its safety. The
firing was now resumed A courier from
Gen. Grimes directed the withdrawal of the
division 1t was slowly withdrawn. The Fed
erals, seeing this movement, hastened their ad-
vance and moved with such rapidity as to
make the situation alarming: 1t became
necessary to check them by some sudden
stroke. In this emergency Gen. Cox directed,
through an aide, the regimsntal commanders
In his brigade to meet him at its center with
out halting the command This they
promptly did. He called their attention to
a hill. gradually rising. between them a