The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-19
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The Last BugIe Command Before
Lees Surrender.


From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Maryville, Mo-, March 13.-The bugler
who blew the last charge" of the civil
war lives in this city He talks interest
ingly of that final rush at Appomattox and
the truce that speedily followed. His
hardened lips sounded the inspiriting cav
airy command that practically ended the
bloody conflicts 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 a perilous
struggle, and the year 1865 found him, I'M
der Clusters command, in that part of the
field where hostilities were formally ended.
I'VE had been pursuing Lees retreating
army all day on the Sth of April 1865" said
Mr.. Sisson, to the Globe-Democrat corre-
spondent. "On that day we had captured
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 advanced and
them before US easily. In a short time we
were advancing apparently, on Lees wagon
train, but, instead, we found ourselves
headed through Lees army. Then the
last bugle command of a hostile nature
was blown, and we were charging at them.
LAS we rushed on, two of Gen. Gordon's
aids rode out They carried a 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 Gen. Gordon in his
lecture on 1.-THE Last Days of the Con-
federacy." The towel, though soiled so
badly as the drying apparatus in a coun-
try printing office, was so much cleaner
than any of the apparel worn by the march
stained men that 1t seemed white In COM
parison. The display of so dirty a flag was
the signal Of triumph for the north, and
silent declaration that the country was
reunited.
"A federal officer rode out to meet the
truce-bearers," continued Mr.. Sisson.
Meanwhile 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 stop
ped. and the dashing Custer rode back
to Gen. Gordon's headquarters.
While terms of surrender were being
discussed a squad of confederate cavalry
Gordon FASTENED to send them command
to cease hostilities but found himself
without an aid. He dispatched a willing
federal soldier, who bore Gordon's order
to end the attack. This was the gallant
southern generals last official direction of
the war. and it was executed by a SOL
der from the opposing ranks.
Custer came back from Gordons tent
alone. As he passed we heard him tell
Gen. Kapehart, uncovering his head the
while, that Gen. Lee was treating for ca
pitulation. Those of us who heard il 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 the 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 1t, and facts bear out the statement
The bugler who sounded the final charge
before Lees surrender is a well-to-do cit
izen, and was formerly a partner of ex-
GOV. Morehouse in the real estate and
loan business.