Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-10-27
Salute That Won Gen. Gordon

to have another experience which is
sure to give me as keen pleasure as
anything it has been my lot to enjoy
for many years.
After the battle of Five Forks, on
April l, 1865, II miles southwest of
Petersburg when Sheridan defeated
General Pickett, it became apparent to
General Lee and his commanders that
it would be necessary to evacuate
Richmond, and General Lee was also
Of the opinion that our army should
evacuate Petersburg and make an at
tempt to reach Lynchburg. So he
summoned me to his headquarters.
General Gordon, he said, / would
suggest that you proceed with your
forces as rapidly as possible westerly,
making every effort to reach Lynch
burg. If we can get to Lynchburg
first, we shall be able to escape Grant
and make junction with Johnston in
North Carolina, or he with us
General Lee | said, is this
command or are we in council?'
The reply was that he was rather
advising or counseling such action
than actually commanding it, Lee
adding that he felt that, if Grant
would let him out of Petersburg and
give him the opportunity. there was
an even chance that he would reach
Lynchburg ahead of the enemy. l
most have looked somewhat inquiring
~ at Lee at this point, for he hasten
ed to add: I feel certain, though,
that Grant will try to get ahead Of
US and cut eff Lynchburg. Therefore,
If we start Immediately, We may beat
him
Il saw the point at once, and as
soon as possible thereafter We were
on the way to Lynchburg, marching
along the north side of the railroad
which runs from Lynchburg to Nor
folk AS we plodded on the fear that
had been with me from the start that
we should find ourselves cut off at
some point on the line of march grew
exceedingly grave. And sure enough,
on the morning that We arrived at
the heights each of AppamattoX Court
House, there we saw Sheridan in
front of US, preparing to attack, and
every one of US knew instantly and in
tuitively that Grants army was be
hind that line, and that here was the
end of it all. Later that day | went
forth, under command of General Lee,
waving a flag Of truce.
"a day later our poor, wearied, hun
CRY, forlorn and pitiable troops, with
their clothing hanging in rags and
nothing in their stomachs for three
days except parched corn, were drawn
up in front of Federal brigade, to
stack arms. Just as We had formed
our line-and, ali, with what heavy
hearts we formed it'll heard the
voice of the Union commander order
ing, in a tone that could be heard at
either end of our line: Present
arms!' And then and there. the next
moment, the conquerors were saluting
the ragged remnant of the Army Of
Virginia!
Tonight ] am to meet for the first
time in my life the man who gave
that command. I shall meet him upon
the platform from which l am to de-
liver my address, and he will know
from the tenderness and cordially of
my greeting what are my sentiments
towards him. That man is Gen.
Joshua L. Chamberlain, as brave and
noble a commander as the Union
army ever had. And from the day
that he gave that order of his to Pre-,
sent arms to US vanquished Confed,
crates I have ever held that it was
the most chivalrous military command
ever given IN peace or war"
Copyright. 1910, by z. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)