The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11

XVI 'ici III -SreIlySDuTB thHn any OlnefS
that Is matter of history.
Now, the writer was at Appomattox
ms was also Lieutenant Holtzman; and
the facts connected with the little action
on Sunday morning so far as Fits Lee s
Brigade was concerned, are about these;
Fitz Lees Brigade was assisting in
covering the retreat OF Lees army, and
on Friday the enemy pressed us to such
| degree, they having over ten cavalry
| 70 our one. that 1t seemed to me they
would ride over us In spite OF all we
could dp Saturday they af<eared to let
us alone, and we retreated in compara-
tive peace. barring few light skirrn-
ishes. But Saturday afternoon Fitz Lees
Brigade was ordered from the rear to
| the front Of Lees army. The brigade
was drawn UP in columns of squadrons
In the western edge Of the town. After
standing by our horses until we became
exhausted, we laid down, holding our
horses by the bride rein. until aroused
tho next morning about daylight by the
| bursting of shell over the brigade,
| which was fired from the direction of
Lynchburg. This was the first evidence
the rank and file had that the Yankees
| had gotten In our rear. Immediately
after this shot was fired from tho Yankee
guns, Gen. C. A. Evans. then command
Ing Gordon's Corps. opened brisk fire
on the enemy, which proved to be Sheri-
dans Corps. and which had during the
night gotten In our rear. The bugle
sounded ITO horse" and we were i'm
mediately taken to the right wing of
Lees lines. In moving to the right we
found that the Yankee cavalry It'd ex-
tended away round beyond Lees right
wing. We charged through their line
and got around on the Lynchburg road.
and had the Yankees between us and
General Evans. In fact. the shells from
his guns came pretty close TO our
columns.
1t was the opinion OF the uniformed
that this movement of F'itz Lee was 10
get in the rear OF Sheridan and capture
him, and I remember distinctly several
OF the men in my presence were discuss
ing what they wanted from the pris-
oners that we were. going to take. we
We're formed in columns of fours sabres
drawn and ready for a charge. The
Maryland Regiment was ordered to
charge down the road from Lynchburg
and into the enemy that General Evans
was fighting. This regiment made no
more gallant charge during the war than
on this occasion, and seemed to be en-
tirely enveloped by the Yankees. The
First Regiment was called to attention.
and we expected to have gone right In In
support of the Maryland Regiment, but
y
coomng back with flag of truce. Cen
eral Gordon had sent a flag of truce
through the enemy's lines to Ftz. Lee
ordering him to remain in the position
now occupied" and In the charge the
Marylanders had captured 1t.
General Munford, who was In COM
mand of the brigade. held counsel of
war and Informed the officers of the
brigade OF the real condition of things.
That he had no authority over them.
That Geenral Lee had surrendered the
army. and that. fearing that he would
be unable to arrange with General Grant
for tile cavalry to retain their horses and
equipment, which was their private pro-
perty, General GHitz. Lee had determined
to bring the cavalry on the outside that
all who desired could receive their pa
roles according to the terms of surrender.
but that there were some commissary
supplies at Lynchhurg, and II the men
would stay with him he would take them
back to Lynchburg and issue these pro-
visions to them. AS we had been living
on parched and raw corn for couple
of weeks we were glad to avail ourselves
of this opportunity to get something to
eat, and many of the brigade marched
back to Lynchburg with General Mum
ford.
The First Regiment had inspired from
their gallant commander, Stuart. much
of his spirit. A man to be in good
standing In the First Regiment must
have captured his own equipment: Nc
Clellan saddle and bride. a red u. s.
blanket, poncho, Chicopee sabre. a new
Sharp's carbine and Colts pistol But
the most necesstous thing after the
arms was white handkerchief. Every
old soldier knows how hard it was to
have anything white during the cam
paign. but these handkerchiefs were kept
Immediately white by being ever and
anon washed In a running stream, and
before they got thoroughly dry was
folded up and set upon to take tho place
OF an ironing. because whenever the
regiment passed lady every one of
these white handkerchiefs had to wave.
and they We're not to be used for any
other purpose
But when we marched into Lynchburg
that afternoon the heights OF tho city
We're lined with citizens, and many beau
tiful ladies', but there was not II white
handkerchief drawn or 4 cheer given.
have read frequently claims as to
the last shot by the army OF Northern
| Virginia, but have always believed that
| the last shot was fired by Maryland
regiment. for when the regiment started
| to charge General Evans had ceased fir
| ing, and the flag Of truce had passed his
| line on tho way to Fitz Lee.
/ IIS ICSitloH VI flHo FliSl virginia S.lN-
| airy on this occasion gave them full
view Of the operations IN front.
You will see, and history Will bear
out the facts that the first fighting IN
tho Army of Northern Virginia was done
by Virginia cavalry. That Fitz Lees
| cavalry brigade charged and captured Il
battery In tho rear of Meadc's army at
Gettysburg. whore they We're engaged in
Il desperate fight with Ciregg's and
| Pleasantons cavalry. The First Virginia
Cavalry made three distinct charges, and
went further inside the Federal lines
than Pickett did In his famous charge.
| However, It was nothing like so desperate
as was Pickett's. The facts also will
bear out the statement that cavalry did
tho last fighting of the Army Of North
i crn Virginia. ]. r. GIBBONS,
r. Company. 1st Va. Cavalry.
Bauxitc. Arkansas,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Fort Sumpter.