Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-03
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General Sheridan at Appoma ttox

t8lSlllS.
General Sheridan at Appomattox
AS all Georgia people are inter
csted in the reunion of Con ederate
veterans next week, l decided to
write at this time on AppomattoX
and as to how General Phil Sher-
idan, of the Union army, saw it, He
was an active participant in the
slirmiShes and battles of those
last days of the Confederacy, when
the fabric was crumbling into final
ruin. General Sheridan mentions
the capture of a man and a mule.
who looked like a plain farmer and
who protested against the indignity
of an arrest. for said he, Il am a
southern gentleman When they
examined the capture they found in
side his boots two cablegrams from
the commissary of Lees army, say
ing the is at Amelia courthouse
short of provisions-send 800, 600
rations quickly to huntsville juno
ton One of the dispatches was
intended for the Confederate supply
department at DanviIle, the other
for the one at Lynchburg. Gen
eral Sheridan concluded that Cen
eraI Crook had cut the telegraph
me ana lUiS llSSSSHSSI was OIl HIS
way across the country around the
telegraph break. They told where
General Lee was and also the num-
Der of his troops.
Sheridan's command was also
pinched for provisions, and he saw
where he could obtain supply lie
called up his scout commander, WHO
provided four good Union men, who
Nv Il I,N he
of country, and dressed them in
gray uniforms. They went down
the line of railroad towards Lynch
burg and they transmitted by wire
these captured dispatches, telling of
the condition of Lees army, etc.
Two went towards Lynchburg and
two towards Danvtlle.
Next day a colored man was cap
tured and a letter was taken from
him. The letter read this way:
Amelia, C. H., April 5, 1863.
Dear Mama: Our army is ruined
| fear. We are all safe as yet,
Styron left us sick. John Taylor
is WELL saw him yesterday. We
are in line of battle this morning,
General Robert Lee is in the field
near us. My trust is still in the
Justice of our cause and in God.
General Hill is killed. l saw Murray
a few minutes since. Bernard Terry
he said was taken prisoner, but may
get out. Send this by a negro, l
see passing up the railroad to Mich
lenburg. Love to all. Your devoted
SON, William B. Taylor, colonel"
Sheridan Immediately dispatched
what he had learned to General
oh, L, al n T,nn nn1ll6
not escape. General Grant came
Immediately. On April 6, Sher-
idan's cavalry advanced on Amelia
C. House. There was sharp battle,
and Confederate General Ewell lost
his command of 10000 men and was
himself taken prisoner with other
general officers.
The next sl5irmish took place at
Prince Edwards courthouse. Then
they heard that General Lee had
crossed over to AppomattoX and Gen
eral Crook was following him closely.
On the morning of the eighth OF
April they started to AppomattoX
station. Before they reached that
place General Custer made a detour
to cut off General Lee. When Sher1-
dan reached the station General
Lees main body Of troops was COM
ing on the ground. A sanguinary en-
gagement ensued, forty pieces of
artillery were captured; 400 baggage
wagons burned. Railroad trains
were burned, and the Federal cavalry
in hot pursuit. They formed a rear
guard commanded by General Long
street up the valley. Just! then an
aide de-camp from Custer filled with
excitement, hat in hand, dashed up
to me with message from his chief,
Lee has surrendered do not
charge. The white flag is up" The
Civil war was really ended. If Cen
eral Grant had not offered to Cen
eral Lee terms Of honorable sur
, render, that rearguard of General
Longstreet would have tried to cut
its way into the mountains or died
in the attempt and General Lee with
it.
That was agreed ~pon after mid
night on the preceding day, as told
TO me by General Charles Field, who
then commanded the Virginia regi-
ment. which General Lee commanded
when he enlisted after Virginia had
seeded and Joined the Confederacy.
We are all familiar with General
Lees formal surrender to General
Grant at the final meeting at APP
l