The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-02
THE LAST CAMPAIGN.
Experience or Signal Corps Nan at Lees Sur
.nItnt

Gen. o. H. Howard, who was Chief Signal
Officer at Gen. Sheridans Headquarters. After
the battle of Five Forks, April ], 1865 Gen.
Sheridan's forces on tho morning of April 2
began forward movement, following Gen.
Lees army az he reiterated southwest from
Petersburg. On this route Sheridan's forces
from day TO day would attack the rebel forces
hold them in check az long as possible, then
make n forced march and get to their front
again, repeating the action day aftor day, until
Saturday the Sth Of April. On this afternoon,
about 3 p. NJ, We met Lees advance n little
south of AppomattoX Station, railroad station
which is about three or four miles south and west
of Appomattox Courthouse. We had furious
battle at this point, aud drove the advance
back toward Lees main force across the station,
whero we captured several trains of cars loaded
with ammunition and supplies for Lees army.
Tho main forces of Lee coming up we had to
fall back, but stubbOrnly contested every foot
of ground until about p. M, when il got so
dark in the woods around this railroad station
that fighting ceased. We did not go into camp
that night, but waited for tho break of day,
which made its appearance about q. m.
Gen. Sheridan's forces were facing north and
east. At 3 n. III. our Headquarters started and
moved in northeast direction through tho
woods. The cavalry under Custer and Down had
ut this timo opened the ball and were having all
they could do TO hold tho enemy in check. In
of the station we met the Colored troops of
the Twonty-itth Corps marching into field
and making arrangements to cook their break
fast They had marched all night, and were
very tired and hungry. These colored troops
were tho first infantry that came TO Gen. Sheri-
dams support.
As soon Us their breakfast was over they
formed into battle line and moved forward to
assist the cavalry. They were just in time, as
tho enemy was making n desperate effort to
break through. These Colored troops did noble
service for the Union that morning. They
went into the fight rs though they enjoyed it.
The Cannoneer" in his letter in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of April 3, think says no does
not think there was battery engaged on the
morning of April o. 1865 but there was. Two
brass field pieces were planted in field about
three fourths OF mile northeast of the station
and do not think there ever was more service
done for Uncle Sam in the same time than did
these two guns that Sunday morning. / saw
those brave gunncrs stand by their guns until
surrounded by the J0bnnics. The last voley
they fired into the charging Confederatcs / do
not think thoy were over two rods away.
aiterwafd saw these Same guns latter the sur
render) up near the town of Appomattox.
When the colored troops fairly got to work
with the cavalry, tho force was too much for
the ConiedeTates, and they gradually began to
fall back toward AppOmattox Courthouse. To
the right of the coored troops was Gen. Gus
ters Cavalry Division; 10 his right-which was
Shcridaus extreme right-was Gen. Deyin's
cavalry. To this point Gen. Sheridan at about
8 n. m. gall0ped, looking for Gen. Devin to
hurry him into action. We rode into q woods
just little south of east of tho Courthouse.
When we entered this woods tho rebels were
Smelling 10 from ridge west of the little town.
On q knoll in the woods was a small church or
school-housc. Just as we reached this build
ing We saw troop Of cavalry approach from
the rebel side. Although they had on our uni
form, Gen. Sheridan suspected them 10 be
Johnnies, and Instantly wheeled his horse and
gailoped back We had hardly got started
when we were fred into by these same rcbs.
No ono Was hit that | know of, but il was
miracle that any Of US escaped. We then gall
loped west right along tho south side of tho
town.
At this time Appomattox, a little town about
two blocks wide and about half milo long,
was the dividing line between tho troops Of
Gen. Gordon and Gen. Sheridan-ours facing
north and theirs southwark. Judge from my
observation that tho main street runs east
and west, or nearly so. public highway
running north and south crossed Main street
near the center Of the town. On this crossing
Gen. Gordon with few Of his staff and dOz-
on or moro mounted OrderIics were stationed
with the flag Of truce. As Gen. Sheridan, with
prohching from tho little church or school
house where we were fred into along the south
side Of the town, wo first saw the white dag
when Nc were about opposite tho Courthouse,
or about three blocks cast and one block south
OF where Gen. Gordon was waiting.
At first sight Of tho flag Gen. Sheridan halt
cd. and had short consultation with his staf
officers, then moved forward until wo struck
tho road that Gen. Gordon was on, about one
af ii L..
Gen. Gordon motioned with his hand to u.s. As
soon us we halted he then called TO Gen. SheT-
idan aud said:
" General, am sent by Gen. Lee to ask for
q cessation of hOstlities TO consider terms OF
surrender"
These were the exact words used by Gen.
Gordon. AT once Gems Sheridan and Gordon
dispatched orders TO tho commands engaged,
aud in few moments tho fighting ceased
The last shot between the Army OF the Poto-
mac and Northern Virginia was fred few
minutes before o o'clock on Sunday morning,
April 8, 1865.
When Gen. Sheridan and Gen Gordon met,
and, while shaking hands, looked at my watch
and u was 10 minutes before a. IN. At this
point We remained. Gen Lee with quite a
number Of his Generals, soon came TO this place.
After short time Gen. Grant and q number Of
his leading Generals came. Tho reason Gen.
Lee was there before Gen. Grant came, was
that he and his whole army were i'm sight of
where we were, not over half mile away,
while Gen. Grant aud his forces were at least
from one TO three miles from u.s.
AS soon as Gems. Grant and Leo met they
shook hands, then introduced the different off
cers. do not think that the conference lasted
over an hour. As soon as Gen. Leo received
the terms-thc only terms no could get--"un-
conditional surrender" he, with all tho Con-
federates with him, returned TO his army. As
soon rs he left Gen. Sheridan came TO where
stood. / said to him.
General, tho war is over"
He replied:
"Gcn. Grants terms arc unconditional sur
render, and he has given Glen. Lee until 4 p. m.
TO accept. If not accepted fighting will then
commence. But" said no. the terms will
be accepted-see those lines of blue waiting
and ready for the word 2-and the war il over"
When Gen. Lee reached his army he had his
troops massed, and when addressing them was
within sight, and could hear the sound of his
voice, though | could not understand what he
said Some Of his soldiers that heard him told
me that he had eulOgized them for their brav-
cry, etc; advised them of the only terms he
could get, he said he had done all he possibly
could for them; did not want TO SEQ any more
bl0odshed when all hOpo was gone, aud would
have to accept the terms.
At p. m. Cen Leo, Con. Early, Gen Gordon
and q large number Of other Confederate Off
GERS came 10 the place where the meeting was
held in the morning. This second meeting do
not know much about, as Gcn. Sheridan was at
once ordered to North Carolina with his force
to assist Gen. Sherman, and we left Appomat-
"a ~ Inc.