The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-25

never questioned the sincerity and honesty Oh
worth Carolinians in this belief, but undertook
~ prove and did prove by the most overwhelm-
ing and conclusive evidence that the North
a.oina troops were mistaken, and that the
iast nghtlng by any part of the Army OF North.
srh virginia was by the Hampton Legion OF
SUN carolina, under command of Brigadier-
ueherai NJ W. Gary, and Virginia battery
OF TWO guns on the extreme left of the Con-
tederate line.
Readers OF the Index-Anuea1 arc familiar
with the facts previously stated In detail
IN this column more than once and il Is not
our purpose to reiterate them now. We merely
WISH TO introduce new evidence In support OF
tne lndex-Appears observation-disclosures from
me Federal side Of the highest and most au-
thoritative Character,
MaJor-General Is. H. league of the United
confederate Veterans of South Carolina, learn
ing that General T.. W. Whitaker Clusters CHEZ
OF stan, was living in Washington, wrote to him
Tor his recollection Of the last fight at Apo
mattoX and received the following emphatic
and convincing reply:
$50 Rock Creek, Church Road
Washington, u. c., Dec. IS. 1910.
Gen. Il. H. league Aiken. S. c.:
General:--four letter of December 18th is
beIore me. / am glad to respond to YOUR in.
quiry by stating that there is no doubt what
ever that Garys cavalry fired the last shot
at AppomattoN. as was talking with Gordon
ana Longstreet at the time, when they wer,
giving me their assurance that the surrende.
was in good faith when that firing was cite,
Py me as lustifying my doubts and my neec
OF more evidence before returning to stop o,u
cavalry charge, They at told me that l.
was Colonel Gary. and treasured me by sendinl
a stan officer to him to stop the fighting. }WheI
TINS was done Ords infantry line was pressin.
towards us from the west and l was urged II
announce the surrender there first, which die
before returning to Custer.
used the Sims towel YOU SO well describe
ana gave 1t to General Custer. know no shots
were hred on that field after Gary's
Yours sincerely,
e w. whitaker,
z Clusters Chief Of STAFF
General Whitaker's statement IS correct Al
we participants. Federal and Confederate IL
eventual morning know that there was no fr.
ing on the Appomattox battlefield after Garv's
North carolina owes it to the truth Of histor,
anu 10 her own seRrespect TO review he
Ease ana IN the event an impartial and search
ing investigation proved that a mistake has
neen made, no time shouf3 be lost In removint
the erroneous and misleading tablet In III,
iact of the truth, which wifi be preserved IN.
Il ~torY. mat tablet cannot remain where il is
without bringing North Carolina Snto dertsfo,
and contempt. The Old North STAR has gIor,
enough both in war and peace without seek
ing 10 attain more surreptitiousIy or meretri.
Giousy.
1t was the exceptional fortune of the Harnnto,
- gloh-that superb organization of first clas,
hehtlng men--to fire the first shots and tba
idSt shots at Appomattox. After the disa strous
stampede at Farmvlle General Lee in nar
son designated the Hampton Legion 10 40 II
advance of his army, instructing Colonel Ar
mold TO picket every cross road In 'ipc,,ir,
diligently the most direct route TO Jvnchhurp.
ana report to him every hour About 4 o'rIocl
IN the afternoon the legion encountered Gus
ter ! cavalry at Appomattox Courthouse Apaips,
overwhelming numbers Arnold deployed his
hahdful of men and attacked vigorously ORA 90,
ing the enemy beyond the courthouse The
nghthR WAS kept up until late at night ana
wen II ceased the legion held the ground and
peal Ap