The Portland daily press., 1897-03-25
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The Last Bugle Command Before Lee'e
Surrender.
(st. Louis Globe-Demoorat. }

YOU k4OGlS
Maryv]lle, NO., March 13-The bugler
who blew the last charge" Of the civil
war lives in this city. He talks inter-
estingly of that final rush at Appomattox
and tie truce that speedily followed.
His hardened lips sounded theIinsplriting
cavalry com and that practically ended
the bloody conflicts of four years, and
resulted in ultim ate peace and the per-
petuity of the union.
When the war broke out Nathaniel
Sisson enlisted in the I'd West Virginia
Cavalry. He rode5under the flag of that
gallant regiment through many peril
GUS struggle, and the year 1865 found
him, under Custer's command, in that
part of the field where hostilities were
formally ended.
"Ws had been pursuing Lees retreating
army all day on the sth. Of April. '66, -
said Mr.. Sisson, ito the "Globe Demo.
GRAFT" correspondent. ''On that day we
had captured train of cars bearing sup
plies for Lee, and sent out from Rich
m0ud. We also niate quick work of a
belated wagon train and, tired after SO
vigorous day of foraging. went into
camp.
After laying on our arms all night,
we are ealleu early, and before daylight
were i'll the saddle. ready for the events
of the most glorious day of the war. The
| lrou BILE began ut an early hour. We adj
vanced ana met the enemy's skirmish
line, brushing them before us easily. In
short time We were advancing, appar-
entity, on Lee's wagon train, but, instead,
a lol
Lees army. Then the last bugle COM
| mand of a hostile nature was blown,
and we were charging at them.
i'Aa we rushed on, two of Gen. Cor
don's aids rode out.
They carried flag of truce. That
practically ended the war"
This historic flag Of truce, mentioned
by Mir. Sitson, was the dirty towel SO
humorously referred to by Gen. Gordon
in lis lecture on 'sThe Last Days of the
Confederacy. The towel, though soiled
as pa:ily as the drying apparatus in a
country printing office. was SO much
cleaner thnn any of the apparel worn by
| the march-stained men that it seemed
white in comparison. The display of so
dirty @ rag was the lignal of triumph for
| the Nurtb, and silent declaration that
| the country was reunited.
"A Federal officer rode out to meet the
! truce BEARERS" continued MIR Sisson.
| " Meanw lille, Custer rode at the head OF
| his charging column, entirely Ignorant
| of the proffered truce. The aids spurred
their horses and overlook Custer, who
ordered the column to halt. The moving
line stopped and the dashing Custer rode
back to Gen. Gordon's headquarters.
"While terms of surrender were being
discussed squad of Confederate cavalry
dashed into the front of the Union ranks.
| Gordon hastened to send them commando
to cease hostilities, but found himself
without an mid. He dispatched q willing
Federal soldier, who bore Gordon S iordel
to end the attack. This was the gallant
Southern Generals last official direction
of the war, ard 1t was executed by 6
soldier from the opposing ranks.
| "Cusler came back from Gordon's tent
alone. AS he passed we heard him tel
Gen. Kapehart. unoovering his head the
while, that Gen. Lee was treating fol-
capltulation. Those of US who heard il
set mp cheer. 1t was carried down the
line and across the valleys until the very
hills shook with the shouts of JOY from
the throats of thousands of the boys II
blue, who realized that the war wal
over"
| Bugler Sisson does not claim that ht
blew tha last order of the war; but hi.