The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-06
LoNGSTREET And CUSTER
rHrlR MEETING ON THE MORN
ING OF APPOMATTOx.
na.or,pt,on of the striking Scene IRE
sented-The ia deral Ofiicers' HastY De-
maud and Hasiy withdrawai-A Pic

d..
cal director Of General Longstreers Corps,
ARMY Of Northern Virginia, has written for
Tur TIMES the following graphic account
of the meeting on the morning of Appomat-
fox Of Generals Longstreet and Custer;
Early dawn Of the "morning OF Apo
mattox" found the remnant of the Army oil
Northern Virginia attacking its old-tiihe
enemy with Characteristic "elan' ana lury,
utterly unaware Of the terribly humiliating
order it was TO receive in short time-to
cease firing, and to furl forever that banner
which they had so wildly loved and madiy
Collowed for four years. TO General Lee
the necessity for such an order became in
eyitable. when he obtained information that
the road to I.ynchburg before HIM swarmed
with ponderous Federal corps Of infantry
md cavalry. each OF which was many times
iorger than his entire force. He knew that
n,rfher fighting would only be sacrificing
the noble men who stood ready TO yield up
their lives. and he, with his big manly heart
almost breaking in agony, prepared 10 go 10
fine rear with General Grant and close the
correspondence that had been actively car
ried on between them for the past lew days
relative 10 the surrender OF Inc army
The picture of the last conference OF Lee
with his ..old war horse" Longstreet, as he
gave him his last orders as commander OF
the Army OF Northern Virginia, and turned
his horses head 10 the rear to 20 and meet
Grant. was one TO which only the brush OIL
a David or MeissonieT could do justice
There sat side by side two military men
who had fought more unequal battles with
a poyyerful enemy. and won more victories,
Than any other two living In the WofIu NJ
mat time. Now they were conierrlng
ahout the discharge Of the most painful
duty that ever falls 10 the fate OF soldler;
80 one looking nj either could have iOretold
.sthe DAYS disaster on his morning lace
which. though calm and serious, had the
reuose and hrmness proved by the stern de-
| termination OF performing his duty, be IL
what il may.
General Lee. accompanied by Colonel
Marshall and Taylor. Of his stan, rode BACK
down tbe road by which the army had come
| tbe night before in search Of Grants ad-
vance. leaving the army in charge OF Gene-
raj I.ongstreet. IIOslilities were continuing
still. Tor Gordon, who commanded the au-
vance. and FitZ Lee. the cavalry, were
pushine the enemy towards and through the
| Courthouse, and. finding the resistance less
than they expected, sent word TO General
| Ionestreet that they thought they could
onen the wavL General l.Ongstreet instantly
| ordered Colonel John Haskell to ride as fast
as he could 10 Oyertake General Lee, ue-
/ liver GordOn's message ana his own advice
! that Lee was about to meet General Grant.
| Colonel Haskell dashed off on his thorough
| brad mare (Which he sold few hours after
ward 10 a division commander Of General
Grants army like wildfire 10 stop the peet-
ing. bus he had not gone fifteen minutes
before Ord's corps Of infantry came up and
! debOuching from the village began 10 ell
yelOp GordOn's short and attenuated lines,
whilst sheridan's cavalry appeared on each
! flank TO complete the enclosure. Message
! followed message in quick succession from
Gordon to LOngsTeet, that If he was not re-
enforced Immediately, his command would
be captured.
General Longstreet then directed Colonel
W. II. Palmer, acting adiutant general, to
order the fraZZled remains OF Heath
and WilcoXs command to support
Gordon. but that if he found that he was
about being surrounded, to tell him to raise
n flag of truce. and inform the Federal
cavalry in his front that General Grant and
General Lee were seeking conference. and
10 suggest cessation Of hOstllities until
they could be heard from.
CUSTER DAsBEs OUT.
just then an officer dashed out Of the Fed
eral lines accompanied by an aide. lie had
| a white handkerchief tied by one end TO the
| button-hole of his coat. while the other was
| held IN his hand. lie requested to be taken
/ to General LOngstreet at once. The ollcer
was General Custer. and he was met by
! Colonel Palmer, and accompanied by him
| 10 the position which General LOngstreet
and stan and other officers occupied on the
rounded hill opposite the village. The Con-
! Tolerate group was startled 10y the sudden
appearauce almost in its midst OF the Fed
eral officer who dashed up with great
clapking Of sabre. spurs. bride and trap
pings on his horse. His appearance was
! strikmely bizarre and romantic. lie wore
a flannel shirt, cut low in the neck, long,
red flannel scarf around his throat flowing
behind him, and partially entangled IN his
yellow locks of hair, which fell IN Wild pro-
fusion from under his huge sOmbrero upon
his shoulders.
81 DEMAND THE SURRENDER"
Throwing himself from his horse, hC
strobe ND to General LOngstreet and said IN
quite an imperative, if not fierce. tone: 81
demand the surrender of the Army of North
crn Virginia" General LOngstreet, Will
that wonderful equipoise that exhibited
itself conspicuOJsly in so many trying mo-
nents. looked him steadily in the face, but
made no reply. Again the impetuous young
"sabreur" repeated: Il demand the sur
render Of the Army of Northern Virginia
still no response from the imperturbaDl6
Longstreet. Then, for the third time, in g
nervous manner and tremendous voice. he
made the same demand. General Long
street, in a very emphatic manner, said
" Are YOU not aware that General Lee aud
General Grant are seeking a conference al
this timer General Custer replied
seeming very much confused, that he
did. and began some explanation Of his un.
expected visit, when General LOngstree
beckOned him TO walk with him aiew wards
away from the group. What happened II
the interview we did not then know, for the
conversation WIS inaudible TO the stan, but
tine substance Of the conversation was re
peatcd 10 rs few moments afterward 10y
iongstreet. We observed that Genera
Clusters manner was NeIy nerNOus and eN
lcted, and deprecatOry, as If he were asking
that something should not be done and he
seemed anxious to get away from the meet
Ing.
VERY COURTEOUS.
General LOngstreet called Colonel Palme
10 escort General Custer to his lines, and
with much hat raising and bowling from
both sides the unique interview terminated
CAPTURED BATTERY.
As General Custer lef5 the Confederate
commanders position he met, a few yard
on. battery OF Federal artillery which haC
been captured just before the nag Of true,
had been raised. The artillerst3, will
their brand new uniforms, and their fat
sleek horses, presented a strange contrast
70 the old Confederate battery, the rude
Threats Of which had sent destruction in 81
many battles, and the tattered uniforms o
whose artillerisls were sOiled with powder
and dust. General Custer spoke pleasantly
10 his comrades as he passed them, but HI
must have been struck with the paradox o
seeking the surrender of IA foe who was cap
turing his cannon.
''BLUFF IN ALBUQUERQUE"
When General LOngstreet returned 10 tn,
/ group of officers he was laughing very
heartily, and made use of an expression
that will be recognized by officers OF the ole
army. "'rhat young fellow never PLAYED
blum in Albuquerque.' He then told IL
what had occurred in the short talk, '
which was to the effect that General Custe
desired that General Longstreet should sur
| rnpdar tho army Ia him and sion further Of