Appomattox Echo. [from the Charlotte, N. C, observer, September, 1899.]
The last volley on that memorable field. Statement of General Grimes.
It was fired by Cox's gallant North Carolinians—a stirring Reminiscence—Lest we forget a letter from Mosby.
In the Confederate Veteran for August, Captain William Kaigler, of Dawson, Ga., insists that the last volley at Appomattox was fired by the sharpshooters of Evans's division under his command, and not by North Carolinians.
The closing incident of the greatest of modern wars is of such historic importance, and is so creditable to those participating therein, that it is not surprising that they should be proud of it and claim as much of its glory as truth permits.
In the Veteran for November, 1898, Captain Kaigler first claimed this honor for his command, and in the Veteran for February, 1899, he is answered and contradicted by Captain James I. Metts, of Wilmington, who quotes statements (sustaining him), made by several North Carolina officers, among them being General W. R. Cox, whose brigade they say fired the last volley at Appomattox.
In his last communication Captain Kaigler says that General Cox is liable to be mistaken, because his statement ‘is only from recollection after thirty years have elapsed.’
In this Captain Kaigler is himself mistaken, for this statement of General Cox is exactly the same written by him and published, in 1879, in Moore's History of North Carolina.
It was my privilege to be an active participant in that memorable morning's scenes at Appomattox as one of the staff of Majorral
[93]
Bryan Grimes, and it fell to my lot to carry the last order on the field of battle immediately preceding the surrender.
All the incidents of that historic occasion are still fresh in my memory, and as an eyewitness I unhesitatingly testify that the last volley at Appomattox Courthouse was fired by Cox's North Carolina brigade of Grimes's division.
But, to put the matter beyond all doubt, and to cite the best evidence possible, I will ask your readers to consider what was said about this controverted question by the witness best qualified to know—General Bryan Grimes—who planned and commanded the last charge at Appomattox.
I enclose, therefore, the following extract from Grimes's own report, or statement, published in 1879, and never questioned before his death.
As stated by him, he was given by General Gordon the divisions of Walker and Evans in addition to his own division, which was composed of Phil Cook's Georgia brigade, Battle's Alabama brigade, Grimes's old brigade, and Cox's brigade.
It is proper to state that General Grimes was not in the rear, but was with the line of battle and narrowly escaped being killed.
All soldiers know how hard it is for an unmounted officer at one end of a long line of battle to know what is done at the other.
Hence, it does not disparage Captain Kaigler's veracity or courage to assert that he, who was on the extreme left, could not know what was done on the right as well as mounted officers who were riding all along the line and had full opportunity of seeing all that was done.
This statement of General Grimes's (who died in 1880) is so clear and explicit that it should be accepted as conclusive of the facts mentioned, and being of peculiar historic value, should be carefully read and remembered.
