Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-10-03
NO. 10.
shcl-islan's Own Story Of the End Of tins
War af Appomattox.

War af Appomattox.
Beyond us, in a low valley near Apo
mattox court house. after my flank move-
meut). lay Lee and the remnant of his
army, There did not appear 10 be much
organization. except ia the advanced
troops under Gen. Gordon. whom we had
been fighting, and a rear guard under
Gen. Longstreet, still further up the wal.
ley. Formations were Immediately begun
TO make bold aud sweeping charge down
the grassy slope, when an aide de-eamy
from Custer. filled with excitement. hat ID
hand. dashed up to me with the message
from his chief: "Lee has surrendered Do
not charge: the white flag is npis Orders
were given to complete the formation bat
not to charge
Looking to the left. to Appomattox
courthouse. large group was seen near
BY the lines OF Confederate troops that
had fallen back to that point. Gen Gus
ter had not come back, and supposing that
he was with the group at the court house,
moved on a gailop down the narrow
ridge, followed by my staff The court
house was perhaps three fourths Of mile
distant. We had not gone far before .
heavy fire was opened on us from skirt
Of timber to the right. and distant not
mach over 300 yards. halted for mo
ment, and. taking off my hat, called out
that the flag was being violated. but could
not stop the firing. which now caused us
all to take shelter in n rayine running par.
allel 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 n sergeant carrying
my battle flag. Within 100 TO 100 yards
from the court house and Confederate
Al. al
brought down their guns to an aim on us.
and great effort was made by their officers
to keep them from firing. halted. and
hearing some noise behind. turned in tho
saddle, and saw Confederate soldier at
tempting To take the battle flag from the
color bearer. This the sergeant had no
idea OF submitting to and had drawn his
saber Ia cut the man down word
from me caused him to return his saber
and take the flag back TO the staff officers.
who were some little distance behind |
remained stationary moment after these
events, then. calling staff officer.
directed him to 20 over To the group of
Confederate officers and demand what
such conduct meant. Kind apologies
were made and We advanced Tie supe-
rior officers met were Gen. J. Il Gordon
and Gen Cadmus NJ Wilcox. the latter
an old army officer
As soon as the first greeting was over.
furious firing began in front Of our own
cavalry from whom we had only a few
minutes before separated. Gen Gordon
seemed to be somewhat disconcerted by
II. ! remarked to him, Gen. Gordon.
your men fired ON me as WIS coming
over here and undoubtedly they have
done the same 10 Merritt's and Clusters
commands. We might just as well let
lasfEn Hfrh nut 4gs
Gen. Gordon did not accede | then asked.
why not send staff officer and have
your people cease fringf They are VIC
lating the flag lie said. II have no
staff officer TO send ! replied. II will
let You have one of mine. and calling for
Lieut. Vanderbilt Allen. ! directed him to
report To Gen. Gordon and carry his
orders. The orders were TO 20 To Gen.
Geary, who was in command of a small
brigade OF South Carolina calvary, and
ask him To discontinue the firing. Lieut..
Allen dashed off with the message. but.
ou delivering IL to Gen. Geary was taken
prisoner with the remark from that Off
Ger that he did not care for white flags.
that South Carolinians never surrendered.
II was about this time that Merritt,
/ getting impatient at the supposed treach-
erous firing. ordered a charge of portion
of his command. While Gems. Gordon
and Wilcox were engaged In eonversa-
tion with me a cloud of dust, wild hur-
rah, flashing of sabers, indicated a
charge and the CALCULATIONS of my staff
officers were heard, Look Merritt has
ordered charge" The fight of Gea-y's
brigade followed; Lieut.. Allen was thus
released The last gun had been fired
and the last charge made in the Virginia
campaign. North American Review.