Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-05-18
The BAT'HLE-FlELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in a
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

Il met, on AppOmattox day" said the
Colonel, the officer who received Gen
eral Lees flag of truce, just before the
surrender, April 8, 1865. This was
Major George F. Morgan, at that time
Fifty fifth Pennsylvania in Griffin's di-
vision of the Fifth Corps. The division
was on duty early that morning, Nor
gan being well to the front with lines
near Appomattox. A rebel battery went
into position to check the Union adj
vance, and became SO troublesome that
General Griffin said to the commander
Of the brigade: Tell Morgan to take
that battery
Griffin had at one time commanded
the brigade, and he knew Morgan. No
sooner was the order given than the
One Hundred and Fifty fifty charged
the battery. The guns were whsked
away, and the Alabama brigade sup
porting the battery swung around the
flank of Morgan's men to compel their
the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth pro-
ceeded to cut the Alabamans off from
their main column. While this move
ment was being executed Confederate
major came forward bearing flag of
truce-a white pocket handkerchief tied
to the twig Of tree. Taken to Major
Morgan, he said at once: For Gods
sake, Major, stop firing. General Lee
has decided to surrender
Morgan asked why in thunder his
command did not stop firing. The flag
Of truce was sent back to General Grit
fin, the message to be forwarded to
Sheridan or Grant, while Morgan him
self pressed the Alabamans to surren-
der Immediately. This they did, and
Morgan's regiment had the honor of fir
ing the last volley of that campaign
and of receiving the unconditional sur
render of the first Confederate brigade
to lay down it's arms at AppOmattOX.
Then Morgan, after sending his prison
ers to the rear, rearranged his lines SO
as to include the Mclean and other
houses III AppOlldlIOA.
He was sitting on his horse in front
of the Mclean house when Lee and
Babcock rode up, and his men were on
duty when Grant, Sheridan, and the
others came up. Not only were Nor
gans men closely associated with the
events of that day, but they were APP
pointed to receive the arms of the Con
federates, who turned over guns and
equipment in the next few days. 1t
will be remembered that Lee, after
writing his last note to Grant, was met
by Colonel Babcock, who escorted him
to McLeans house to await the coming
of Grant, to whom the note had been
forwarded. Meantime all was uncer
tainty where the lines were in contact,
the officers arranging for only tenn
porary truce. But it so happened that
Major George F. Morgan, now Of Chi
cago, was at the most interesting point
on the line and became a participant in
the dramatic scenes of the AppOmattox
surrender"
Morgan was also at Gettysburg"
said the Captain, land he had an odd
adventure on the night of the second
day. His brigade was posted on Little
Round Top and at night he was chang
ing his pickets along Plum Creek, in
front. when he walked into a detach-
ment of rebs looking after their own
pickets. Morgan was taken short
distance to the rear as a prisoner but,
watching his opportunity, slipped be-
tween the videttes and worked his way
back to Little Round Top. He found
his lieutenant sound asleep, and, creep
ing under the blanket, went to sleep
himself.
I'm the morning the lieutenant pinch
ed his captains arm to determine
whether he was a ghost or not, and
there was a great connection, the men
being noisy with joy when they found
their captain again among them and
none the worse for his adventure. The
next night there was on Round Top a
quiet little game of poker under the
screen Of a blanket. When Morgan in
timated that it was time to quit the
lieutenant remarked. That's all right,
as you have all the money ($3.5O), but
| will get it all tomorrow. You will be
shot and l will go through your peck
cts But Morgan was not shot and
was kept in training for many a hard
fight
At Five Forks Morgan was the senior
captain in a provisional brigade in
which no field officers were present for
duty. When Sheridan and Griffin rode
up at the turning point in the battle the
situation was explained to them, Nor
gan expressing his willingness to as
sumo responsibility. Thereupon Sheri-
.lan rara his orders and said To Mnr-