The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-10
n.
THE SURRENDER AT APPOMAT-
TOX.
Bv General BRYAN Grimes.

On Saturday, the Sth, no enemy ap-
peared, and we marched undistui bed
all day. Up % this time, since the evac-
uation of Petersburg, we had march
ed day and night, continually followed
and harrassed by the enemy. The men
were very much jaded n suffering
for necessary sustenance, our halls no
having been sufficiently long tc pre-
pare their food, besides all our ooh
ing utensils not captured or aban Toned
were where we could not reach them.
This day Bushrod Johnson , division
was assigned ito n placed under my
command, by order of General Lee.
Upon passing a clear stream of water
and learning that the other division Of
the corps had gone into camp some
two miles ahead, / concluded to halt
AND give my broken-down men ar OPP
p~ortunity to close up n join Us, and
sent a message ito General Gordon
commanding the corps, making known
my whereabouts, informing him ]
would be ait any point he might desig-
nate at any hour desired.
BY dark my men were all quiet and
asleep. About 9 o'clock I heard the roar
Of artillery in our front, and in conse-
quence of information received, / a
my command aroused in time and pass
ed through the town of AppomattJA
Court House before daylight, where,
upon the opposite side of the town, /
found the enemy in my front. Throw
ing out my skirmishers and forming
line of battle, / reconnoiterel and sat
isfied myself as to their position, and
waited the arrival of General Gordon
for instruction, who, awhile before day,
accompanied by General Fitz Lee,
came to my position, when he held a
council of war. General Gordon was OF
the opinion that the troops in our front
were cavalry, n that General FftZ
Lee should attack. Fftz Lee thought
they were infantry and that General
Gordon should attack. They discussed
the matter so long that / became i'm
patient, and said ii was somebody's
duty to attack, and that Immediately,
and l felt satisfied thaa they could be
driven from the crossroads occupied
by them, which was the route Ii was
desirable Thatt our wagon train should
pursue, and that / would undertake It:
w~hereupon Gordon said, We'll. drive
them Off" / replied, Il cannot do it
with my division alone. but require as
sistance.' He then said, You take the
two other divisions Of the corps" BY
this time ii was becoming sufficiently
light 10 make the surrounding locali-
ties visible. / then rode down and in
vited General Walker, who command
ed a division on my left, composed
PAAlA1tPaAAy VA AIAoAAS ~ hut WIN
me, showing him the position Of the en-
envy. and explaining TO him my news
and plans Of attack. He agreed with
me as 20 its advisability. / did his be-
cause / felt that i had assumed a very
great responsibility when / took upon
myself the charge of making the at
tack I then made dispositions TO dis
lodge the federals from their position,
placing Bushrod Johnson's division
upon my right, with instructions TO at
tack and take the enemy in the flank.
while my division skirmishers charged
in front, where temporary earthworks
had been thrown up by the enemy,
their cavalry holding the crossing OF
the o with a battery. / soon per-
ceived a dospisition on their part to at
tack this division in flank. I rode
back and threw our righk so is TO
take advantage of some bitches and
fences TO obstruct the cavalry IL they
should attempt to make a charge. In