The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-10

the meantime the cavalry OF Fiz Lee
sere proceeding by q c'rcuitoas s
81 re. I'm rear Of them at the cross
ads. rs enemy observing nae nred
lpon me with four pieces OF 1rtiIery-
{ remember well the appearance OF the
hell. and how directly they came TO-
Yards me. exploding and completely
~nvelopiug me In smoke. ! then save
- signal 60 advance. az the same time
Fftx Lee charged those posted al sne
cross roads. when my skirmishes at
tackled the breastworks. which were
taken without much loss on my part-
also capturing several pieces or arul-
Eery and n large number OF prisoners
I ~ abe same sime moving the divi-
sion up to the suppor OF the sktrrnisn-
ers in echelon by brigades. driving the
enemy In confusion FOR three-aaarters
Of a mile beyond the range OF hills
covered with cak underground. then
earned from the prisoners that my
right flank was threatened. Hating my
troops I placed the skirmishers. com
manded by Colonel j. r. Winston
Forty-nfth North Carolina troops> In
front. about one hundred yards dis
tant. TO give notice of indication OF at
tack. I placed Cox's brigade. which
occupled the right OF the division at
right angles 10 the other troops. TO
watch that flank. The other divisions
Of the corps (waiker's n Evans1
were on the left. then seat an enicer
TO General Gordon announcing our
success. and that the LyncheurE o
was open for the escape OF che wagons
and that I awaited orders. Taereupon
received an order TO withdraw. which
/ declined to do, supposing that Gen
eral Gordon did not understand the
commanding position which my troops
occupied. He continued 20 send me
order after order to the same enest.
which l Sill disregarded. being under
the impression that he did noS COM
nrehnnd orr favorable locatior. until
finally i received a message from him,
with an additional one as corning from
General Lee. to fall back. / felt the
difficulty OF withdrawing without dis
aSter and ordered Colonel j. Ia Win
ston, commanding the skirTnish line
which had been posted in my front on
first reaching these hills, TO conform
his movement to those OF the division.
and to n owe by the left flank. so az
to give notice OF an attack from THAI
quarter. l then ordered Cox TO main
tain his position in line, OF bShtle. n
not to show himself until our real was
100 yards distant, and then 10 fall back
in line of battle. so as to project our
rear and right ank from ASSAULT. !
then instructed Major Peyton. OF my
"a ~ NeA NAN AtGA ~ HhAaR oa1
| continued with the rear.
The enemy, upon seeing US move OF.
rushed OUT from under cover with a
cheer, when Cox's brigade. lying con-
cealed at the brow OF the hill. ros and
fired a volley into them which drove
them back into the woods. the brigade
hen following their r~otraaLing rsm-
rades in line of battle unmolcs1ec.
After proceeding about half the dis
tance to the position occupied by rs I'm
the morning, n dense mass az the en-
envy in column Infantry appeared en-
our right, and advanced. without nrirg.
towards the earthworks captured by ur
in the morning, when IA battery OF our
artillery opened with grape AM can
lister and drove them under the shelter
of the woods.
AS my troops approached their posi-
ton of khe morning. l rode up 10 Cen
eral Gordon and asked where | shOllG
form line of battle. He replied. Amy
where you choose" Struck by the
strangeness of the reply. j asked IN
explanation, w~hereupon ne Informed
me that we would be surrendered. /
then expressed very forcibly my dis
sent to being urrendere ana indig-
nantly upbraided him for not giving
me notice OF such intention. as ] could
have escaped with my divisian and
Joined General Joe Johnston. then in
NpiN Gamma. IT vi iAitA lltpIe. mat Y
should then inform my men OF the
purpose to surrender, and that who
ever desired to escape that calamity
could go with me, and gallor ca OF tc
carry this idea into effect. Before
reaching my troops, however. General
Gordon overlook me, n placing hif
hand upon my shoulder. askhi me z
/ were going to desert the army and
tarnish my own IN as a soldier and
said that Ii would oe 4 reflection upon
General Lee and an indellible Disgrace
to me, IL i, an officer Of rank. should
escaue under a flag OF truce which was
then pending. / was in a dilemma and
knew not what to do. but finally con-
cluded to say nothing on the subject
to my troops.
Upon reaching them, one OF the sol
diers asked IL General Lee hal sur
rendered, and upon my answering that
L feared IL was a fact that we had sur
rendered, he cast away his musket and
holding his hands aleft cried In an
agonized voice, Blow. Gabriel, blow,
My God, let him blow, i am ready 10
oie!" We then went beyond the creek
ait Appomattox Court House. stacked
arms amid the bitter tears OF bronzed
veterans. regretting the necessity Of
capitalization.