Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-19


which the other events of that day are
invested.
1t is. nevertheless, a matter OF pleas
ing Importance to ascertain the truth
of the occurrence, and the article in
question attempts to disclose the real
facts in regard to the cloth that was
used in that treaty.
The following is a paragraph from
the article:
Zone of the most interesting relics Of
the late war is the piece of white towel
ing that was used as a flag of truce
when the confederate army Surrend-
cred 10 Gen. Grant at Appomatox. It is
owned in Washington by Gen. f. w.
Whitaker, who was a member of Gen.
Clusters staff, and received from Capt.
Sims, of Gen. Longstreet's staff, on the
morning of April 9, 1865. Gen. Whit
aker has treasured it during all these
years, and will display it at the coming
grand army reunion He was induced
to part with portion of it several years
ago. when he gave part of it to his old
commander the late Gen. Custer. Mrs.
Custer afterward gave the fragment to
the museum at West Point"
Then follows an affidavit in which
Gen. Whitaker afirms that the flag was
used by him in the rebel lines, at the
request of Gems. Gordon and Long
street, to announce the surrender of
Lee to the infantry lines of battle, and
also the cavalry.
Now the question arises, is the towel
= l. 81. - IN6sk
aker the genuine flag of truce that was
used in Gen. Lees surrender?
1t is conceded, of course, that Gen.
Whitaker believes it to be part of the
same flag, but the existence of another
account, at least, calls to question the
weight of the evidence under which the
towel was accepted as the genuine flag.
1t is barely possible that Capt Sims
may have been mistaken in regard to
his trophy. The fact, however, that nc
other cloth is now in existence purport-
ing to be the genuine flag adds strength
to the probability of his statement,
while it weakens, to a certain extent,
the credibility of the other account
Tradition, however, asserts-and
there are many who live in the neigh
borhood of Atlanta who believe the ac-
count implicitly-that the garment in
question was not a towel nor anything
like a towel.
just here hangs very amusing tale,
and the principal actor is one of At
lanta's representative citizens. He fig
ured throughout the entire war, and
fought with an intrepidity that rivaled
the courage of julius Cesar. II the &C
count is correct, and it certainly has the
merit of probability, it shows that he
was equal to the emergency of serving
his country even in the last extremity.
1t is rather singular thing that war,
with its carnage of battle and its
anguish of men crying to God, should
yet be the parent of SO much comedy.
The funniest things that have ever hap
pened have occurred in the bitter ex-
periences of the active campaign, and
the spirits of levity and death have
often been strangely intermingled in
scenes of the bivouac and the march.
If there ever was tragic scene en-
acted and one that repealed the idea OF
amusement, it was certainly the scene
of Gen. Lees surrender Ragged and
weary with long fighting, their faces
haggard and tear stained, the confed-
crate soldiers knew what it meant to
surrender their tiag. They had fol
lowed the old ensign over mountains
and had followed it through creeks and
rivers. They loved it as only heroes
could love it as the flag that symbolized
Ia l,4 -, -,
the world, principle, home and prop
erty. They were bitter words that
were wrung from the heart of the old
captains: Boys, we have fought for a
long time together. / have done the
best l could for you. l can not say
more just now" 1t was enough. II
carried with it the final adjudication OF
the struggle and all of their battles and
splendid victories had come to this-an
uncondition al surrender
Yet out of the pathos of that very
scene has come the amusing story OF
the flag of truce 1t was not a towel
in the Atlanta version of the story, but
an intimate garment that belonged
to the scanty wardrobe of Capt j. w.
English.
1t was the lower rear portion of an
old shirt-the only one that was left in
the army-and that was used as the flag
of truce that checked the hostilities be-
tween the contending armies.
No other rag could be found and the
emergency of battle was such in the
desperation of that fatal morning that
it was necessity to hoist the garment
or else succumb to inevitable death.
Accordingly, the shirt was lifted and
the effusion of blood was stopped At
lanta Constitution.