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detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the
railroad some distance beyond and break the track。 These regiments
set off at a gallop； and in short order broke up the railroad enough
to prevent the escape of the trains； Custer meanwhile taking
possession of the station； but none too soon； for almost at the
moment he did so the advance…guard of Lee's army appeared； bent on
securing the trains。 Without halting to look after the cars further；
Custer attacked this advance…guard and had a spirited fight； in which
he drove the Confederates away from the station； captured twenty…five
pieces of artillery； a hospital train； and a large park of wagons；
which； in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day； were
being pushed ahead of Lee's main body。
Devin coming up a little before dusk； was put in on the right of
Custer； and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the
other two held in reserve。 I then forced the enemy back on the
Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House； and that the
Confederates might have no rest； gave orders to continue the
skirmishing throughout the night。 Meanwhile the captured trains had
been taken charge of by locomotive engineers； soldiers of the
command； who were delighted evidently to get back at their old
calling。 They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro；
creating much confusion； and keeping up such an unearthly screeching
with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars
burned。 They finally wearied of their fun； however； and ran the
trains off to the east toward General Ord's column。
The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house
just south of the station。 I did not sleep at all； nor did anybody
else； the entire command being up all night long； indeed； there had
been little rest in the； cavalry for the past eight days。 The
necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that staff…
officer after staff…officer was sent to him and to General Grant
requesting that the infantry be pushed on； for if it could get to the
front； all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow。
Merritt； Crook； Custer； and Devin were present at frequent intervals
during the night； and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that
our weary work was about to end so happily。 Before sun…up General
Ord arrived； and informed me of the approach of his column； it having
been marching the whole night。 As he ranked me； of course I could
give him no orders； so after a hasty consultation as to where his
troops should be placed we separated； I riding to the front to
overlook my line near Appomattox Court House； while he went back to
urge along his weary troops。
The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal
generals； when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon
should undertake to break through my cavalry； and when I neared my
troops this movement was beginning； a heavy line of infantry bearing
down on us from the direction of the village。 In front of Crook and
Mackenzie firing had already begun； so riding to a slight elevation
where a good view of the Confederates could be had； I there came to
the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than
that necessary to give Ord time to form； so I directed Merritt to
fall back； and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so
as to make room for Ord； now in the woods to my rear。 Crook； who
with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left
covering some by…roads； was ordered to hold his ground as long as
practicable without sacrificing his men； and； if forced to retire； to
contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance。
As already stated； I could not direct General Ord's course； he being
my senior； but hastily galloping back to where he was； at the edge of
the timber； I explained to him what was taking place at the front。
Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates； who forthwith began
to press Crook； their line of battle advancing with confidence till
it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them。 From this
ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods； and the
hopelessness of a further attack being plain； the gray lines
instinctively halted； and then began to retire toward a ridge
immediately fronting Appomattox Court House； while Ord； joined on his
right by the Fifth Corps； advanced on them over the ground that
Merritt had abandoned。
I now directed my steps toward Merritt； who； having mounted his
troopers； had moved them off to the right； and by the time I reached
his headquarters flag he was ready for work； so a move on the enemy's
left was ordered； and every guidon was bent to the front。 As the
cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line； and in
toward its left； a heavy fire of artillery opened on us； but this
could not check us at such a time； and we soon reached some high
ground about half a mile from the Court House； and from here I could
see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of
Lee's army。 The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order；
but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battlea heavy
rear…guardconfronting； presumably； General Meade。
I decided to attack at once； and formations were ordered at a trot
for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading
to the camps。 Custer was soon ready； but Devin's division being in
rear its formation took longer； since he had to shift further to the
right； Devin's preparations were； therefore； but partially completed
when an aide…decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer； 〃Lee
has surrendered； do not charge； the white flag is up。〃 The enemy
perceiving that Custer was forming for attack； had sent the flag out
to his front and stopped the charge just in time。 I at once sent
word of the truce to General Ord； and hearing nothing more from
Custer himself； I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House
to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there；
so I； too； went toward them； galloping down a narrow ridge； staff and
orderlies following； but we had not got half way to the Court House
when； from a skirt of timber to our right； not more than three
hundred yards distant； a musketry fire was opened on us。 This halted
us； when； waving my hat； I called out to the firing party that we
were under a truce； and they were violating it。 This did not stop
them； however； so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as
to throw a ridge between us and the danger。
We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth； and thence
by a gentle ascent approached the Court House。 I was in advance；
followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag。 When I got within
about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line； which was
immediately in front of the Court House； some of the Confederates
leveled their pieces at us； and I again halted。 Their officers kept
their men from firing； however； but meanwhile a single…handed contest
had begun behind me； for on looking back I heard a Confederate
soldier demanding my battle…flag from the color…bearer； thinking； no
doubt； that we were coming in as prisoners。 The sergeant had drawn
his sabre and was about to cut the man down； but at a word from me he
desisted and carried the flag back to my staff； his assailant quickly
realizing that the boot was on the other leg。
These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return
of a staff…officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from
the group of Confederates for which I had been heading。 He came back
in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred； and informed
me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers
in the group。 As they wished me to join them I rode up with my
staff； but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began。
At the sound I turned to General Gordon； who seemed embarrassed by
the occurrence； and remarked： 〃General； your men fired on me as I was
coming over here； and undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and
Custer the same way。 We might as well let them fight it out。〃 He
replied； 〃There must be some mistake。〃 I then asked； 〃Why not send a
staff…officer and have your people cease firing； they are violating
the flag。〃 He answered； 〃I have no staff…officer to send。〃 Whereupon
I said that I would let him have one of mine； and calling for
Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen； I directed him to carry General Gordon's
orders to General Geary； commanding a small brigade of South Carolina
cavalry； to discontinue firing。 Allen dashed off with the message
and soon delivered it； but was made a prisoner； Geary saying； 〃I do
not care for white flags： South Carolinians never surrender。。。。〃 By
this time Merritt's patience being exhausted； he ordered an attack；
and this in short order put an end to