The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1910-08-09
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Mi.s Lena NeNurray in wa1haw Ente-prise
IL - -
A Son of the Waxhaws Carried the
Last Flag of Truce at Appomattox.

In an issue Of the Charleston News
and Courier, the date of which Is un,
known but appears to be that of sew
eral years ago, is the story OF the last
flag of truce that ever fluttered IN
the Civil war. This story was writ.
ten by the Washington correspond
ent Of that paper. The hero, Major
Robert Sims, was an uncle OF Miss
Minnie Massey Of this place, and a
native Of the WaxhawS. The story
follows:
Il have recently come into posses
sion Of relic that prize very high
". Il is but small, square piece
of toweling, but it is a section OF the
white flag Of peace which foated be-
tween the lines ofwar at Appomattox,
the signal at the sight Of which two
great armies rested upon their arms,
never again to renew the greatest
struggle the world ever witnessed
between men Of the same race and
nation. 1t was Maj. Robert NJ. Sims,
a graduate Of the Citadel in the class
of 1857, then on General Longstreet's
staff, who bore this famous flag OF
truce, by reason of having been sent
BY General Longstreet to say to Gen.
eral Gordon that if the latter thought
proper, he might send a flag of truce
to General Sheridan for a suspen-
sion of hostilities until General Lee,
who had gone to meet General Grant,
might be heard from.
major Sims, upon delivering his
message, was requested by General
Gordon to take the flag. This Major
Sims did, exposing himself unshrink-
ingly to a shower of bullets. His
work done, Major Sims retaining the
towel used as flag of truce, return
ed to Gordon who requested him to
bear it to another part of the line.
Major Sims excused himself, as he
conceived it to be his duty to report
to General Longstreet; General Cor
don thereupon sent Major Brown of
his staff, who borrowed the historic
towel flag from its owner and Major
Sims never saw it afterward. The
towel fell into the hands Of General
Whitaker, who, after having kept it
twenty years, has just turned it over
to your correspondent"
Major Sims was afterward Secre-
tary of State Of South Carolina.
Remains OF General Packenham
Rest in Carolina Soil.
From old records and newspaper
clippings in her possession, Miss Min
ME Massey Of this place furnishes US
the following account of the burial
place Of General Edward Packenham,
who was killed at the battle of New
Orleans by General Jacksons men.
Some time ago Miss Massey visited
the place where it is said the Gen.
eral was buried, and she gathered
information for the following story:
I'm the early part Of the eigh-
tenth century there lived an old
man who kept a tavern on stage
coach line at Morgantown, in Fair
field county, S. c., and who sent
periodically to Charleston for rum.
The barrels we're brought on shafts.
His guests helped him to dispose Of
the contents of the barrels without
much persuasion.
But one Of the barrels being
drained more quickly than usual,
that is the rum gave out too soon,
they wanted to ascertain the cause at
once. The barrel was burst open
and a dead mans body was discov-
cred inside Of the barrel, to the hor-
ror and dismay Of the bystanders,
who had drunk the rum off the dead
man."
1t is generally conceded that the
body Of General Packenham was
never received in England. 1t is
claimed by some that it was mystic
riously lost in some way never fully
explained. The story further says:
AFTER the death of General Pack
enham, an English officer concealed
his body in a barrel Of rum, among
other reasons to preserve it, and Sc
cretly put upon this barrel pecu-
liar mark in order that he could
easily recognize it. Whether the
barrel was sold unwittingly or other
wise is not known. But later dead
man in barrel of rum was sent
from Charleston to a person at Nor
gantown, in Fairfield county, S. c.
II is said that two soldiers, who had
returned home from the battle of
New Orleans, were present when the
barrel was opened and readily iden-
titled the uniform in which the body
was dressed, to be that of General
Packenham. There was also pas
senger on board stage coach stop
x,,or :. ovar ~ fhat n1aoa and vopob