Year: 1879

Philadelphia Times, August 3d.


II had a message from General Lee
telling of flag of truce was in ex-
istence, leaving it to my discretion as
to what course to pursue. My men
were still pushing their way on. [
sent at once to hear from General
Longstreet, feeling that if he was still
marching toward me we might cut
through and carry the army forward.
| learned that he was about two miles
off with his men faced Just opposite
from mine, fighting for his life. /
thus saw that the case was hopeless.
The further each of us drove the enc
my the further we drifted apart and
the more exposed we left our wagon
trains and artillery, which was parked
between us. Every time either of us
broke it only opened the gap wider
| saw plainly that the Federals would
soon rush between us, and then there
would have been no army. ! there
fore determined to send flag of truce.
| called Major Hunter, of my staff, to
me and told him that | wanted him to
carry flag Of truce forward. He re-
piled:


General, l have no flag of truce


II told him to get one. lie replied:


General, we have no flag of truce
in our command.


"Then, said /, Then get your
handkerchief, put it on stick and go
forward.


/ have no handkerchief, general.


Then borrow one and 60 forward
with it.


-" He tried, and reported to me that
there was no handkerchief in my staff.


Then, major, use your shirt,


" You see, general, that we all have
en- flannel shirts.


" At last, believe, we found man
who had white shirt. He gave it to
us, and | tore off the back and tail.
and rigging this to a stick Major
Hunter went out toward the enemy's
lines. | instrucsed him to simply say
to General Sheridan that General Lee
had written me that flag Of truce
had been sent from his and Grants
headquarters, and that he could act as
he thought best on this information.
In few minutes he came back with
Major --, of Sheridan staff. The
officer said


General Sheridan requested me to
present his compliments to you, and
demand the unconditional surrender
of your army.


Mayor, will you please return my
compliments to General Sheridan, and
say that | will not surrender


" But, general, he will annihilate
you.


sc am perfectly aware of my stu.
alton. | simply gave General Sheri-
dan some information on which he
may or may not desire to act.


" He went back to his lines, and in
a short time General Sheridan came
galloping forward on an immense horse
and attended by very large staff |
Just here an incident occurred which
came near having a serious ending.
As General Sheridan was approaching !
| noticed one Of my sharpshooters
drawing his rifle down upon him. II
at once called to him, Put down YOUR
gun, sir; this is a flag of truce. But
he never raised it. He simply settled |
it to his shoulder, and was drawing a
bead on Sheridan, when | leaned for
ward and jerked his gun. He strug- |
gled with me, but | finally raised It.
| then loosed it and he started to aim
again. | caught 1t again, when he
turned his stern white face, all broken
with grief and streaming with tears,
up to me and said, Well, general |
then let him keep on his own side.
The fighting had continued up to this
point. Indeed, after the flag of truce,
a regiment of my men, who had been
fighting their way through TO where
we were, and did not know of a fac
of truce, fired into General Sheridan S
cavalry. This was speedily stopped.
however. | showed General Sheridan
General Lee note, and he determined
to await events. He dismounted and
| did the same. Then, for the FIRST
time, the men seemed TO understand
what it all meant. And then the poor
fellows broke down. The men cried
like children. Worn, starved and
bleeding as they were, they had rather
have died than have surrendered. Att
one word from me they would have
hurled themselves on the enemy and
have cut their way through or fallen
to man with their guns in their
hands. But | could not permit it.
The great drama had been played to
the end"