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

them to fall back in good order and
| then gave the 14th the same order I
/ then called for volunteers from +he
| 18th regiment to take position behind
some houses nearby and hold the
enemy in check until the two repi-
ments had gotten to the rear. About
twenty-five of our men responded
! promptly and we soon opened heavy
fire and made big racket so that the
Yankees did not know our strength.
while fighting behind those houses
two officers rode up some distance i'm
our rear and asked what command
was that fighting. We told them
| General Cox's." They ordered lis ia
stop firing saying that General Lee
| had surrendered The Yankees were
then gathering all around us from
right and left, and we saw no way OF
escape. So, | decided to surrender
and hoisted a white flag and went out
in front of the houses, but we were
fired on by the enemy. l suppose thew
did not see the white flag. Our men
opened fire again and kept it up I'M
til we were entirely surrounded and
taken fighting Some of our men
fired from one corner of a house when
the enemy would come around the
other. We were taken by Sheridan
command and carried into the yam
kee lines and kept all day, and re-
turned to our command about sunset.
General Cox and our friends came OUT
to meet us and expressed joy at our
return, as they thought we had all
been killed. After our surrender or
capture we were taken back over the
entire battlefield, and l know that
there were no other Confederate
troops anywhere on the field nor any
more firing. We were taken [ sup
pose about twelve o'clock. l know
the Yankees were eating dinner when
We arrived in their camp, and they
very kindly offered to share with us.
bue we very politely declined"
The next evidence is that of w. T..
London, now the Brigadier General of
the second brigade in the North Car
DINA division of the United Confed-
crate Veterans, and who was the Ad-
jutant General of Daniels afterwards
Grimes) brigade, and was serving on
General Grimes staff on the morning
of the surrender. His written state
ment under date of August IS, 1904,
is as follows:
ION the morning of the ninth of
April, 1865 our brigade being in line
of battle, General Grimes rode uD and
called me to him, saying: 81 want
you with me this morning. | have un-
dertaken to open those roads (point-
ing to the crossroads in front of us).
Your Brigade is so small it will not
need you at present" / then rode
with him along the lines and just as
we were near Wise's Virginia brigade,
the enemy's battery in our front OPEN
ed on us and one of the shells struck
just under General Grimes horse and
SO enveloped him in smoke and dust
that l thought he must be killed and
rode up quickly, but found him UNI
hurt.
HE then told me to ride back and
order the line to advance When L
got to my old regiment (the 32nd) /
called their attention to the battery
in front and told them / wanted one
of those horses, as my horse had given
out 1t was only a short time before
one of the regiment came riding up
to the left of the line on horse from
the battery for me, and l brought the
horse home with me. | do not know
who captured the battery but the 32nd
regiment could not have been far off
The line of battle continued to advance