The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-07-17
VOL. XXVlX. mo. 20.
TOWEL OF APPOMATTOX.

tic otOIlldC, sIitINu itlllll vi tIle hcIuD-
lie, ut Washington d. c.. April o, 1896,
which,was attended by many members
of Congress high officers of the army.
and other distinguished men, the gallant
Gen. f. W. Whitaker. who was General
Custar's chief of staff. read Il very inn
portant paper or the reception of the flag
of truce, which was an exceedingly
valuable contribution to history
Son the Sth of April" he said. "our
command. General Clusters third cav
airy division. had captured the railway
supply trains, and in IL night battle cap.
tured twenty-five pieces of artillery, and
planted line of battle facing east toward
the rebel line, cutting off its retreat
toward I.ynchburg.
son the morning of the 9th of April,
1896, our division WAS the first in saddle,
having been relieved lH cavalry and in
fantry brought up during the night.
was directed to find the right flank of our
infantry. and the best route to take with
the column, to engage in the lmttlc which
had commenced. | succeeded in finding
Il crossing of Il r;lvinc cast of the station,
and gained the crest of the hill OH the
extreme right of our infantry lmc-a
brigade of colorc,l troops then under fire
of the rebel infantry on the plain toward
the court house. AS fast ;S our com
mand could he got across the ravinc it
was formed on this crest, Il large open
field, in column by SquadronS, with
colors flying and sabrcS drawn, ready for
the command to charge.
sour division was composed of three
brigades of cavalry and Il lnttery of light
artillery to each brigade. Understand
ing that we were to be supported by the
entire cavalry under General Merritt we
pressed down upon the enemy and re-
ceivei the fire from battery after battery
of artillery without stopping to return il
General Custer riding ut the head of
his column. was looking for Il favorable
opening for Il charge. Our movement
slow at first but the fire of the rcht
batteries had nettled our horses into Il
half trot, when suddenly IN officer came
out of the rebel line waving largc'owcl
in his hand. He said he was Captain
Sims of I.OngStrect'S staff, and came ly
direction of General Lee, who asked Il
suspension of loStiitics.
"In an instant Gcnerol Custer said to
to me: Whitaker. take this truce. go
with this officer to General Lee. with my
compliments, say cannot stop this
charge. as am not sole in command of
this field unless he announces an mI-
conditional surrender took the towel
and asked Sims to slow me the shortest
cut to where he had left Lee. lie had
reached our head of column on the
let flark, but in returning we wci.t
Straight ahead in the direction our
column was moving. | remember Wig
orollsly swinging the old towel. and the
great relief felt on entering the rcM
line without being fired at.
'.At the point we entered. only Il short
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