The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-11

sition of the morning / rode UP to
General Gordon and asked where I
should form line of battle. He re-
piled, Anywhere you choose" Struck
by the strangeness of the reply, l ask
ed an explanation, whereupon he in
formed me that we would be surrend-
ered.''
In corroboration of General Grimes
is the statement written in 1879 by
Brigadier General William r. Cox and
published in Volume II of Moore's
History of North Carolina and rewrit~
ten without any material change in
1901 and published in Vol ~ Of
Clark's Regimental Sketches Cen
eral Cox's statement is as follows:
1.-THE army now reduced to two
corps under Generals Longstreet and
Gordon, moved over wretched roads
steadily towards Appomattox Court
House, our purpose being to reach
Danville. By great effort the head
of the column reached Appomattox
Court House on the evening of the
Sth and the troops were halted for
rest. During the night there were
indications Of large force moving on
our left and front. Besides his own
division General Grimes was put in
command of the remnants of Bushrod
Johnson's division and Wises brigade.
Just before daylight Gordon moved
his command through the village and
was supported by Fitz Lees cavalry
on his right. AT five o'clock a. m. /
received an order that on the firing
of a cannon the division would move
forward. The division had not
proceeded far before Cooks and Cox's
brigades We're exposed to a murderous
artillery fire, but, instead of hating
and recoiling, they promptly charged
and captured it, The engagement now
became general along our front, and
our cavalry though worn down by
incessant duties on the retreat, gall
lantly and bravely supported us on
the right. The struggle, however, was
unequal. The pistol and carbine were
ineffective against the Enfield range
and destructive 'buck and ball" and
but few infantry We're supporting
them. Retiring slowly at first their
retreat soon became a rout as they
FASTENED to their infantry supports in
the woods. while riderIess horses gal
Hoped over the fields where lay their
wounded and dying. An infantry
captain was captured and brought be-
fore me, and he gave me the first in
formation that General Ord with ten
thousand infantry was iii our front.
Upon taking a commanding position I
ordered a halt when many columns of
infantry We're seen advancing, evident
~ with the intention of capturing us
Firing was now resumed, when Cen
eral Grimes directed me through his
courier, H. A. London, to withdraw.
The armistice had evidently been
agreed to. but ] did not anticipate it.
Still contesting the field / retired slow
ly. The enemy seeing the movement
FASTENED their advance with the evil
dent purpose of surrounding us and
moved so rapidly as to make some
ruse necessary to check their zeal. In
this emergency, through an aide,
James S. Battle, l. ordered the regi-
mental commanders of Coxs brigade
to meet me at the centre as we retired
then directed their attention to a
gradually rising hill between us and
the advancing columns of the enemy
and directed that they face their reg
lments about and at a double quick
charge to the crest of the hill, and
before the enemy should recover from
their surprise, halt, fire by brigade,