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Gary's Brigade at Appomattox

THE TRUTH OF HISTORY
One of Gary's Brigade Answers Phil. Sheridn =
The events Preceeding the Surrender Told By
An Eye Witness
By S. Elliot Webb, First Lieutenant Company A and Acting Adjutant of the Hampton Legion in Charleston Weekly News

The Weekly News of June 27th contained Gen. P.H. Shderidan's account of the surrender of Lee, which is well written and in much better temper than was to be expected of one who has shown such decided partisanship against everything belonging to the South, but there are several statements made, calculated to mislead the general reader and not in strict accordance with facts - in other words the difference between an eye witness at a distance and one who took part in the scenes. These matters should be set right, especially as they reflect upon a gallant officer who has "crossed the river and rests under the shade of the trees" and as brave a body a body of men as ever drew a sword in any cause, Gen. M.W. Gary and the Brigade under his command consisting of the 7th South Carolina Cavalry, 24th Virginia, 7th Georgia Cavalry and the Hampton Legion mounted infantry.

Gen. Sheridan says: "Formations were immediately commenced to make a bold and sweeping charge down the grassy slope when an aid de camp from Custer * * * dashed up with the message from his chief, "Lee has surrendered. Do not charge.

The White Flag Is UP"

And further on, that soon after the greetings with Gen. Gordon and Wilcox of our army "a furious firing commenced in front of our cavalry" which "somewhat disconcerted" Gen. Gordon who was requested to dispatch a staff officer to stop it, but having no one to send, Gen. Sheridan directed Lt. Vanderbilt Allen to carry Gen. Gordon's orders which were: 'To go to Gen. Gary who was in command of a small brigade of South Carolina cavalry, and ask him to discontinue the firing. Lieut. Allen dashed off with the message but on delivering them was taken prisoner. Gen. Gary was taken prisoner with the remark from that officer that he did not care for white flags; that South Carolinians never surrendered." * * * Merritt getting impatient at the supposed treacherous firing, ordered a charge of a portion of his command, a cloud of dust, a wild charge and the ejaculations of my staff officers were heard: "Look, Merritt has ordered a charge!" The flight of Gary's Brigade followed; Lieut. Allen was thus released."

Now for the facts: We did fire upon Merritt, but in total ignorance that negotiations of any kind were going on. Lieut. Allen was not taken prisoner, but commanded to go back where he came from. Gen. Gary was, as all who ever met him know full well, a very independent man in what he said and did, but he knew the rules of war and always respected a white flag, unless convinced that it was raised to deceive him. In this particular case he had seen no such flag, did not know of the existence of one, and did not make the remark attributed to him. Merritt did charge us but

"The Flight of Gary's Brigade"

did not follow.

These occurences took place on the 9th of April, 1865, on the morning of the surrender; but if not encroaching too much on your time and space, permit me to go back to the 8th of April in order to make this sketch a more connected one and relate the part taken by Gary's command. At dawn we were up and hurried from point to point to protect the wagon trains, which were being attack from every branch road leadng to our left - a day of hard riding and incessant skirmishing. Late in the afternoon a squadron was detached and sent down a road to the left of Appomattox Court House, for picket duty, while the main body of the brigade passed through the village to a shady lane beyond. Here Gary halted the command, announced to them that he was in advance of Lee's army and that there was nothing between us and Lynchburg save the Washington Artillery Battalion of New Orleans and a small wagon train.

The men were allowed to dismount and rest till the infantry could overtake us. In the meantime a few men were sent out to gather forage for the famished horses and food for the starving troops. Scarcely had they gone when a heavy artillery opened down the road. "Mount and follow me" was the General's shrill cry, and heading down the hill everyone went. To dismount and deploy was short work, and we had our hands full

Fighting Custer's Division

Our right and left flanks being protected by the hills, we repulsed three attacks, but the enemy greatly outnumbered us, our flanks were turned, and when nearly surrounded, Gary told us to get out the best way we could and form on the road crossing the hill. Night had fallen and though bright moonlight, it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe, so dense was the smoke in the thick timber land. Under these circumstances a large part of the Brigade was captured. Those who reached the road found it blockaded with wagon and artillery horses, which had been cut loose and stampeded. On they came, some with but most without riders, in the wildest confusion. No formation could be made, so "joining the procession" we passed the village and upon reaching the open ground beyond, organized a skirmish line and charged back upon the cavalry, which had followed the stampeded animals. Lieut. Col. A.J. Root, of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, was killed, and every man who composed the advance of the enemy's column was either killed or captured. Our pickets were again established beyond Appomattox, and upon the arrival of Hood's Division, the cavalry was withdrawn. Such of the Brigade as could be found huddled together and fell asleep on the bare ground, hungry and exhausted, only to awake on the saddest day in the recollection of Lee's soldiers.

April 9th dawned cold and chilly. A heavy mist like a funeral pall hung over hill and valley. At an early hour Gary rode up and ordered the men to follow him. From the top of the hill a long dark line could be faintly discerned, stretching as far as the eye could see - that line Gary determined to charge and break through if it could be done by mortal man. Realizing the desperate character of the work it was

A Forlorn Hope

and believing that not a man would survive it, the colors, a beautiful silk battle flag, presented to the Hampton Legion by the ladies of Gen. Logan's family, were sent off the field.

Formed into column of fours, the Brigade, numbering not more than seventy-five men, charged a division of Federal cavalry. These were the men who fired upon Gen. Sheridan and made him "seek a ravine," this the brigade about which Merritt kicked up "a cloud of dust." Finding he could not gain his end Gary gave the command to fall back, but not a man left the ranks. While we were thus engaged one of the batteries of Col. Haskell's Battalion unlimbered their guns and trained them upon us. Acting Assistant Surgeon John McLeod, who had dismounted to aid a wounded comrade, told the cannoneers not to fire, as the men in their front were Confderate troops, and knowing the execution these guns could do, double shotted with canister as they were, rode forward and urged Gen. Gary to uncover them so that they would sweep the hill. Riding around and between the cannon, the Brigade formed line to the right of them.

On they came. There was a "wild hurrah, a flashing of sabres," but be it said to the honor of Gary's Brigade and the gunners at those pieces they never faltered. If ever men faced what seemed certain death but their "flight did not follow."

The God of Battles

mercifully watched over them and at the instant of their seeming annihilation. A Confederate courier rode between the lines with a white flag and shouted, "Hostilities have ceased. Stop firing." At the same moment an elegantly dressed and handsomely mounted Federal officer (Lieut. Allen) rode up from the rear of our line and asked, "Who commands this cavalry?"

"I do, by God, sir, Martin W. Gary of South Carolina. Who are you?"

I have been sent here by Gen. Gordon, of your army, to tell you to stop firing, that your army has surrendered," was Lieut. Allen's reply.

"You're a liar, sir, go back to your command. These men are South Carolininians and do not surrender," Gary answered. Bidding the men await his return, he rode immediately over to Gen. Lee to learn the true state of affairs.

As soon as he left the Federal cavalry swarmed around and saluted us with "Johnny, the jig's up." We leave the reader to imagine the reply In the few minutes conversation which took place between the contending forces it was impossible not to notice the contrast - on the one hand a handful of ragged hunger-bitten, hollow eyed men riding astride of the frames of what had once been noble horses; on the other a mighty host, well mounted, well clad, and splendidly equipped and wonder why they had not devoured our substance and overrun our country long before.

The day will come when Americans from every part of our common country will be as proud of the record of the Confederate troops as Gary's Brigade are of their own.

The Federal bugle sounded the recall just as our General returned with this report, "General Lee has surrendered."

As soon as this was announced the color sergeant was sent for

and The Flag Torn Into Ribbons

each one of the survivors receiving a fragment of it.

Turning the command over to Col. R.B. Arnold of the Hampton Legion, the General told us we could either remain and accept the terms which would be offered or try to make our escape. Bidding his command a long farewell, he made his way through the enemy's lines that night, accompanied by a few members of the Legion and never did surrender.

Gen. Sheridan adds to the extracts herein made from his account: "The last gun had been fired and the last charge made in the Virginia campaign." To Gary's Brigade I believe the honor is due.

The Long Agony Was Over

Under orders from Gen. Lee, the men were withdrawn from the front, and bivouacked along the road leading directly to and within sight of Appomattox Court House, where rations of hard tack and bacon from the Federal commissary supplies, the first food we had eaten for several days, were issued to us.

Gen. Lee's return from the ? with Gen. Grant has too often been described to be repeated here.

The 10th of April was occupied filling up the paroles. In the afternoon Lt. Col. Venable of Lee's staff called to inquire at what time our brigade would start homeward and expressed a wish to accompany us. Midday of the 11th had been agreed upon and he joined us early in the day. Before starting he said he would ride over to bid Gen. Lee good bye and permitted the writer to accompany him.

On reaching the General's tent we found a group of officers formed in a semi-circle in front who were soon joined by

The Great Captain

Looking each one in the face, he started to address them, but his heart was too full. Bowing his head, while the tears rolled down his cheeks, he said, "God bless you, gentlemen. God bless you!" and those old veterans, who had faced death a hundred times, wept like children.

The farewells were spoken and silently, reverently, we came away.

Before nightfall all the cavalry has passed out and beyond into the great world, henceforth to seek more peaceful occupations than had claimed their attentions for four long, weary years.

Anderson (SC) Intelligencer
June 26, 1883
p. 1 cols. 3-4

Bryce A. Suderow
streetstories@juno.com

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