The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
LAST FIGHTING AT
old APP0MATTO ,
Another Chapter iii Some Dis
puted History Regarding the
Final Firing.
COL. BLACKFoRD's ACCOUNT
The Story Of the Last Clash Of
Arms OH Virginia
Soil.

The paper of Lieutenant-Coloncl VIII
liam w. Blackford (of Colonel r M. r..
,Talcott's regiment, the Virginia Confeder-
ate Engneers), fully confirms tho nc
count heretofore published by Colonel
Talcott concerning the last hour ut APP
pomattox. 1t shows TINT probably the
last Federal soldier killed was slain by
that regiment while Gordon and sheri-
dan were parleyng at Appomattox Court.
house. 1t MISC shows that this occurrence
was after the capture of some guns Of
n battery by regiment OF Roberts's
North Carolina brigade, the story OF
which has been given in The Times Dis
patch. It farther shows that while Cor
don and Sheridan were concerning about
the surrender, q charge was made by
the troops OF General Gary, OF South
tho last onset on the enemy's lines on
the dny of surrender. 1t was ut least
the last, tho time of which has been
fixed by testimony. Whether the charge
OF the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, OF
Feales Brigade, or that OF the First
Maryland Cavalry, both OF which were
from n, mile or SO distant from the scene
described by Colonel Blackford, and on
the right Of the Confederate line, were
later, is matter about which no testi-
rony that am familiar with has been
given.
The article recently written by Colonel
w. II. Robins, Of the Twenty-fourth vir-
ginia Cavalry, rs to tho charge pending
the arrangements for surrender by
Gary's Brigade on the Confederate left
docking toward Lynchburg). is fully cor
roborated by the account OF Colonel
Blackford, and that account may be
found in the appendix of the memoirs
Of her husband edited by Mrs. Charles
NJ Blackboard. Of Lynchburg, Ia few
copies of which were printed for prl-
vate circulation in 1896.
Licutcnant.Co Colonel w. w. Blackford
was brother Of Captain Charles NJ.
Blackford. Both of these devoted Con-
federate officers have now passed over
the river.
Northumberland Blnckford served
considerable time upon the staff OF Gem
eral j. E. B. Stuart, and Captain Chas.
NJ. Blackford upon the STAFF OF General
Longstreet. The writings Of each Of
these officers are very interesting. and
should be given to the public, and 1t is
to be hoped that the memoir Of Colonel
w. w. Blackford, which, 1t Is under
stood, he had prepared, and also that OF ]
his brother. may be published in m en-
during form. JOHN w. DANIEL.
Col. Blackford's Recollections.
On the night Of the 9th OF April we
went into camp within mile and half
Of Appomattox Courthouse. and little did
dream that this was the last camping
ground that L should occupy as a soldier
Of the Confederate States army. so fur
as we knew, everything was gong on as
usual There had been fighting all day,
but we knew nothing OF the result.
remember, while on the march, some Of
ficer Joined us and spoke despondently In
the presence OF the men, and got quite
angry, and he rode on TO his own COM
mand
The morning orgthe 9th Of April was
clear and bright, and to our surprise
we did not ger marching orders. as usual
at daylight We could near cannon IN
front, with some musketry occasionally.
At Q or 10 O'Clock orders came from Cen
eral Leo for us to move up to the sup
port Of a battery then in action on tho
little village OF Appomattox. und the
regiment marched on toward the place.
When within half n mile we came in
sight OF the ridge on which the village
was, and OF the smoke OF the battery.
We presented fine appearance, SIX or
seven hundred strong, marching in solid.
we'll closed column as we moved through
the dlsorganlzed mass or straggers
crowdng tho road 1t struck me us
something strange that there should DO
so many men in this condition. but paid
little attention to 1t. as we were now
evidently going into action. The battery
on the ridge was firing at an enemy
beyond ana out OF sight.
Colonel Talcott told me to ride ahead.
reconnotcr the ground and select place
to put the regiment in the roar OF tho
guns: SO l galloped off. Just as reached
the battery, Richmond battery. think
1t was, they llmbered up and began mov-
ing to the rear. I rode up to the cap
tain and asked him what was the mat
tor and told him had been ordered to
support him. IIe said no had received
orders to remove tho battery to the roar.
but beyond that he could give mo no In
formation / then asked him where
could find general officer to get In
structions and he said General Gordon
was there in the village. so dashed Off
to find him. could now see the open
country beyond and the troops tho bat.
terry had been playing on. and there wera
very largo bodies Of them, with nothing
TO oppose them before mo.
i found General Gordon sitting on his
horse in the courthouse yard alono. look
ing ut tho enemy. some four or flYa
hundred yards distant ] rode up to him
Just as body Of some thirty or forty
horsemen separated from them and came
gallop!ng towards US. waving whit
handkerchief tied TO a sabre. Before
could state my Grand. no looked around.
and, seeing mona OF his staff present, no
told me TO ride down row OF brick
offices on the edge of the courthouse
yard and tell the skirmshers occupying
them not to fire on the flag OF trucs
approaching
BY the timo I had done this the horse.
men had entered the yard and halted
one officer then rode towards General
Gordon. and, saluting asked II this was
General Gordon. Upon General Gordon
renlyinp that 1t was. he said: ~ am
General Sheridan" General Gordon re-
turned the salute, and they entered into
conversation stood n, little way or,
and caught only u little OF what passed.
! heard General Sheridan say something
about "the terms of surrender etfucK
me like an electric shock. All now
flashed to my mind, The ERECT Was