The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-18
Tie Last Charge at Appamattox.

Tie Last Charge at Appamattox.
On Sunday morning, April 8, 1865, Gen.
John B. Gordon formed his hitherto VIC
torious Legion for the last charge. The
preceding night had been cold and chilly
and we reached the village about midnight,
when we halted on the court house square,
built fires and remained until day. We
then re- formed, marched out of Appomat-
tex in a southWesterly direction, passing
Carter's, Ssarke's and Poagues' Battalions
Confederate Artillery in position and then
firing at the long lines of Sherfdan's blue
columns, which had come up the night be-
fore and thrown themselves across our only
avenue. Gen. Gordon was commanding
the Second, or Stonewall Jackson's old
corps, Gen. Clement 4. Evans, Gen. Cor
dons old division. Col. John l.. Lowe was
commanding Evans old brigade, the fol-
lowing regiments composingit: Thirteenth,
Twenty sixth, Thirty first, Thirty eighth,
Sixty, Sixty-first Georgia and Twelfth
Georgia Battalion, and Capt. Keigler's
Battalion Sharpshooters, twenty men and
two officers-Lieutenants Hogan and
Gwynn.
Our thin line was now advancing rapidly
and the continued roar of Carter's, Starke's
and Poagues' guns seemed to indicate that
we would drive all opposition from our
front and escape.
Our hope of success was short lived, for
suddenly there appeared long line Of blue
infantry moving down on the right, with
fixed bayonets and flags gaily flying in the
morning breeze. Gen. Evans came riding
down his thin line watching the Federal
infantry as they advanced until he came
opposite Kaigier' Battalion Sharpshooters,
when he ordered them to deploy and charge.
The idea OF this battalion-twenty-s six men
and three officers-charging an army corps
and them flushed with victory, none but
Gems. Gordon or Evans would have thought
Of, and am sure no men but those who
followed Lee, Johnston and Jackson would
have complied.
Soon the roar of musketry told US that
Kaigier had attacked as that good soldier
knew how. The Federal line now seemed
to halt and kaigler was now returning with
seventy-one prisoners who had surrender
ed. Lieutenant Hogan of that gallant
band, was cool in the charge, having been
on all thebattlefields of the Civil War where
his command was engaged.
We formed another line along the road
east of the village and Gen. G. A. Custer,
commanding United States Cavalry, rode
into our line in few feet OF the water and
asked to see some general officer in the
Confederate Army. He was directed to
Gen. Gordon. We soon had orders to un-
cap our guns, march out into the field and
stack arms.
We remained at Appamattox Court
House from the 9th of April until the 18th,
| all the terms of the surrender having been
agreed on. Gen. John Gibbons Division
of the Third Corps, y. S. A., was drawn
up on the north side of the public road east
of the village to receive our surrender.
Gen. Chamberlain commanding the first
brigade, as we came opposite, ordered his
men to present arms. the highest compli-
ment from the victor to his defeated for.
We halted, stacked arms, furled our
banner that we carried from the beginning
to the end. We received our paroles on
the 18th, and then commenced the long
tedious march homeward to find this once
happy land a wilderness, made so by Sher-
man in his march to the sea. The writer
with four Of his company reached Atlanta,
Ca. on April Oath, the first of Lees army
to arrive. -.Scrgeam +. l.. Uudgiins an
|Iafson's Magazine.
John B. Gordon and Clement A. Evans
we're men of heroic mold, ever ready 'to
do or die" from Manassas to Appamattox.
Gen. Evans was a gallant brigadier under
the dashing Gordon. A brave and trusted
officer under Lee during the war, Gen.
Evans, after the surrender was prominent
in everything that was good, and his spot
less life drew him close in the affections of
the people. His last order to charge-':t the
closing scene," as it were-was character
istic of his courageous nature and undying
fidelity, resulting in victory under the most
depressing circumstances. Think of twen-
ty-nine of Lees immortals, in ''forlorn
hope" snatching victory from the jaws of
defeat by capturing two to one of their en-
emy Although starved and greatly out
numbered, the Army of Northern Virginia
was still full of fight, and perhaps no man
but Lee could have induced them to sur
render until almost extermined. OF such
was ''the storm Graded nation that fell"
before the onslaught of the world.