Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-14
BIT OF WAR HISTORY.

| The Last Bugle Command Before Lee ;
Observation-Disclosures Flag of Truce.
The bugler who blew the last charge
| Of the civil war lives in this city. lie
talks Interestingly OF that final rush at
Appomattox and the truce that speedily
| followed. His hardened lips sounded the
inspiriting cavalry command that prac-
tlcally ended the bloody conflict of four
years. and resulted in ultimate peace and
the perpetuity of the Union.
When the war broke out Nathaniel Sis
son enlisted in the Second West Virginia
| Cavalry. He rode under the flag Of that
gallant regiment through many perious
struggle, and the year 1865 found him I'M
der Custer command. in that part of the
field where hostilities were formally ended.
I'VE had all been pursuing Lees retreat
ing army all day on the Sth of April 60,
said Mr. Ssson, TO the Globe-Democrat
correspondent. ION that day we had cap
tured a train Of cars bearing supplies for
Lee, and sent out from Richmond. We
also made quick work of a belated wagon
train, and, tired after so vigorous a day
of foraging went into camp.
After laying on our arms all night we
were called early, and before daylight
were in the saddle ready for the events
OF the most glorious day of the war The
trouble began at an early hour, We ad-
vanced and met the enmy's skirmsh line,
brushing them before us easily. In a short
time we were advancing, apparently, on
Lees wagon train, but instead, we soon
found ourselves headed through Lees
army. Then the last bugle command of a
4
charging on them.
"As we rushed on two of General Cor
don's aides rode out. They carried flag
of truce. That practically ended the war
This historic flag of truce mentioned by
Mr.. Sisson, was the dirty towel so hui
morously referred TO by General Gordon
in his lecture on The Last Days of the
/ Confederacy." The towel. though soiled
as badly as the drying apparatus in n
| country printing Office. was so much
| cleaner than any of the apparel worn by
/ the march-stained men that it seemed
white in comparison. The display of so
| dirty a rag was the signal of triumph for
! the North. and the silent declaration that
! the country was reunited.
| "A Federal officer rode out TO meet the
truce bearers" continued Mr.. Ssson.
! Meanwhile Custer rode al the head of his
/ charging column, entirely ignorant Of the
/ proffered truce The aides spurred their
| horses and overlook Custer, who ordered
| the column to halt. The moving line
stopped and the dashing Custer rode back
TO General Gordon's headquarters.
while terms of surrender were being
( discussed a squad of Confederate cavalry
/ dashed into the front of the Union ranks
! Gordon FASTENED TO send them command to
! cease hostilitieS, but found himself with
| out an aide. He dispatched q willing Fed
eral soldier. who bore Gordons order TO
| end the attack This was the gallant
! Southern generals last official direction
| of the war and it was executed by q SOL
| der from the opposing ranks.
Custer came back from Gordon's tent
| alone. As he passed we heard him tell
! General Kapehart, uncovering his head the
while. that General Lee was treating for
| capitulation. Those Of us who heard it
| set up a cheer. 1t was carried down the
! line and across the valleys until the very
! hills shook with the shouts of JOY from
the Threats of thousands Of boys in blue,
who realized that the war was over"
Bugler Sisson does not claim that he
blew the last order of the war: but his
regimental historian gives him the credit
for it. and facts bear out the statement.
| The bugler who sounded the final charge
before Lees surrender is well-to-do cit
| izen. and was formerly a partner OF for
mer Governor Morehouse in the real estate
and loan business-Maysville CIo) Core
spondent in st. Louis Globe-Democrat.