The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-07-20
WAR STORIES.
Last Flag at Appomattox.


was carried in line of battle at Apo
smattox This flag is Of very fine
silk and was first carried by the 4th
North Carolina regiment, which vas
organized at Raleigh early in the war,
and o. which Bryan Grimes was the
colonel. Later he used this flag at
his headquarters when he became
'hrigadier general, and later still, upon
his promotion to major general, it was
naed as headquarters flag.
On the eventful day of the surren.
der at Appomattox Court House Gen.
Grimes commanded all the ConfcIer-
ate infantry actually engaged, and
ewas, ct his own request permitted to
Enake the attempt TO dislodgc large
force which Gen. Grant had during
e5he previous night masscd on the
eSrther side Of Appomattox Court
House to intercept Gen. Lees pro.
sgress ia that direction. This Federal
Eorce had thrown up earthworks at
ode intersection of two crossroads.
That morning the two other divisions
.ef Gordon's corps, Walkers aud
Evans, were placed at his disposal,
&hose of Bushrod johnson and Wise's
brigade having been placed under his
command the day before. Gen.
Grimes carried the works, captured
artillery and prisoners and drove the
Eederals back nearly o mile, with
-sA,all loss to his own force. lie at
once sent courier TO Gen. John B.
Gordon with news that the road to
Aynchburg was now open, and his CUR
prise was extreme when an order in
reply came to withdraw. Gen. Grimes
In his story Of what occurred said that
Ior the first time in his military career
he refused to obey orders from su-
Derior.
He said II declined to withdraw
ebecause I supposed Gen. Gordon did
mot snow the commanding position
sny troops occupied. He continued
Go send me order after order to the
same effect, which still disregarded,
fbeing under the impression that he
did not comprehend our commanding
position, until finally I received a
message from him, with an additional
'one coming from Gen. Lee, to fall
back. l then ordered Brig. Gen. Will
diam K. Cox to maintain his position
an line Of battle and not to show him.
self until our rear was 100 yards dis
tant and then fall back in line Of bat
tile 80 as to protect our rear and right
dank from assault. The enemy upon
seeing us move, rushed out from cover
with cheer, when Cox's brigade,
dying concealed at the brow Of the
hill, rose and fred volley into them,
which drove them back into the
woods, the brigade then following it's
retreating comrades in line of battle,
mnmolested. After proceeding about
aalf the distance to the position oocu-
pied by Us In the morning, dense
rsaass OF the enemy's infantry in col.
mnn appeared on our right and ad-
uanced without firing towards the
earthworks captured by us in the
morning. When my troops approach
ed their position Of the morning rode
up to Gen. Gordon aud asked where l
should form line Of battle. IIe re-
whed, Anywhere you choose Struck
1y the strangeness of this reply, l
asked an explanation, whereupon he
anformed me we would be surrendered.
Aexpressed very forcibly my dissent
TO bs1ng surrendered, and Indignantly
upbraided him for not giving me no.
dine of such intention, as could have
escaped with my division and joined
Gen. Joseph E. johnson, then in
NORTH Carolina. l told him further
'shat j should then inform my men of
sthe purpose to surrender and whose.
ever desired to avoid that calamity
could go with me, and then galloped
,off to carry chat idea into effect, but
snefore reaching my troops Gen. Cor
'non overlook me and, placing his hand
'on my shoulder, asked me if was
going to desert the army and tarnish
my own honor as soldier, saying it
,Would be reflection upon Gen. Lee
and al 4ndeliblc disgrace to me, that
4, an officer Of rank, should escape
under flag of truce, which, was then
pending. | was in dilemma, and
knew not whatto do, but finally con-
Gtuded to ssy nothing on the subject
stomy troops. Upon reaching them
one of the soldiers inquired if Gen.
Lee had Surrendered, and upon my
.ansy. ering that ! feared it vas a fact