Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-04-15

uihhS w UICCb ocu. AnOpucT,
and directly another, messenger came
to Gen. Longstreet from Gen. Gordon,
asking for help and saying that he was
very hard pressed
Gen. Longstreet then directed me
to ride over to Gen. Gordon and say to
him that il he thought proper he
might send flag of truce over to Gen.
Sheridan, who was supposed to be in
command in his front, and ask for
suspension of hostilities until he could
hear from Gen. Lee, who had ridden
down the road to meet Gen. Grant.
81 found Gen. Gordon in the village
OF Appomattox, hard pressed in front
and being flanked on his left.
after delivering the message he
said it was proper for him to send the
flag, and as he had no staff officer with
him begged me to take it. We agreed
that the beat direction to take the flag
was to a heavy column of artillery
then pressing on his left flank.
"As I started off I was joined by
Maj. Brown, of his staff. l rode
through Gen. Gary's dismounted cav
airy, who were hotly engaged with the
enemy.
Upon reaching the enemy I was
met by Lieut.. Col. (now GEM Whitaker
and major. Col. Whitaker advised
me to go to Gen. Custus, whose col.
umn of mounted cavalry was just then
passing to the rear Of Gordon's left
flank.
"We put spurs and in few moments
reached the head of the moving col
xx,ha II IL
asked me who / was and what / want
ed. replied that was an officer on
Gen. Longstreet's staff, and was the
bearer of a message from Gen. Gordon,
who desired a suspension of hostilities
until Gen. Lee could be heNrd from,
who had gone down the roaG to meet
Gen. Grant.
"Gen. Custus said: 'We will listen to
no terms but these of an unconditional
surrender. Our people are now behind
Jones'
~ replied: I don't think we will sub
NIT to that, but will take your message
back to Gen. Gordon, and If you wish
to send an officer along with me you
can do So
"He directed Col. Whitaker and the
|,
to accompany me. Upon our way back
to our lines Col. Whitaker begged me
to give him the towel which 1 had
| used on this occasion as flag of truce.
This peremptorily and emphatically
declined, telling him that l would not
allow him for any consideration to pre-
serve it as a memento of our humilia-
| ton.
upon reaching Gen. Gordon, he was
being hard pressed in front and on
his right, and he begged me to take the
flag to another part of the field. told
him that could not do so, us must go
| to Gen. Longstreet, who would prob.
ably need me very soon, as Gen. Custua
said he would proceed to attack; be
sides,' said, you have n member Of
your staff, Maj. Brown, with you
| Maj Brown asked me to loan him
the towel / told him would do so or
condition that he would not allow the
federal officer to get possession of it.
"When returned, in the afternoon
Maj. Brown told me that Col Whitaker
asked for the towel to display as flag
of truce as they rode into the federal
lines together, fearing, he said. tina,
they would be fred upon by the fed
erals. AS soon as he reached the fed
eral lines he rode off, mixed up with
olher officers and men, and he could
not be identified.
1.-The towel afterward was given tc
Gen. Custus, and is now in possession
of Mr.. Custus, of Monroe, Mich. II fre
quently bobs up at the different ma
tional fairs and demonstrations of the
grand army as trophy and relic.
II rode from Gen. Gordon to Gen
Longstreet directly and hurriedly.
found Gen. Longstreet and Gen. Custui
talking together at little distance
from the staff. l heard some allusior
made by Gen. Custus to the message
delivered.
~ walked over to them and begged
to correct Gen. Custus, that did no
tell him that l was the bearer of (;
message from Gen. Longstreet, bu
emphatically that l came from Gen
Gordon. Each said that he understood
that.
"As walked off heard Custus say
4 will proceed to attack at once ant
Lougstreet replied: AS soon as yo,
please
"The attack was not made and ther
was no more firing or fighting. IN. O
Times Democrat.
ODD NOTES FOR THE VETS.