. Civil War officers. Confederate . to-ward the enemys lines. Whether Lee was sparringfor time was a matter of conjecture. We were, there-fore, prepared for any eventuality; and, at a wordfrom Captain Mason, I carried my bugle in one handto sound the call to arms if we found that theJohnnies were trying to escape. That call woidd havebeen echoed all along our lines, and it would havebeen suicidal for them if they had attempted a get-away, for the Federal troops had them bottled upand outnumbered five to one. We swung around to the south and to the left wingof our forces, passing through the li
. Civil War officers. Confederate . to-ward the enemys lines. Whether Lee was sparringfor time was a matter of conjecture. We were, there-fore, prepared for any eventuality; and, at a wordfrom Captain Mason, I carried my bugle in one handto sound the call to arms if we found that theJohnnies were trying to escape. That call woidd havebeen echoed all along our lines, and it would havebeen suicidal for them if they had attempted a get-away, for the Federal troops had them bottled upand outnumbered five to one. We swung around to the south and to the left wingof our forces, passing through the little settlement ofAppomattox Court House, slumbering in the springsunshine, and soon to awaken to discover itself fa-mous. Out toward the right flank of the Confederateswe galloped, every man alert. As we neared theirlines, the woods and hills shut off a view of the Uniontroops, but wo could see some Confederates on thehillside in the distance. The headquarters tents ofLee were plainly visible, though I could see no We had ridden about three quarters of a mile fromthe patch of houses whe^ a few hundred yardsahead, we saw a little party of gray-clad figures, andseveral horses by tl\e roadsiclle. One of the men wassitting under a small tree. A companion stood nearby, while a third man—evidently an orderly—washolding the bridle reins of twoof the three horses. Ata gesture from Colonel Babcock, Mason ordered ahalt, and the staff officer, his white flag conspicuouslydisplayed, rode on toward the gray-clad horsemen,accompanied by a trooper of the escort. Ill wager thats General Lee, said the captain,with a glance at me. Let us hope tilings turn out allright. 1 took a firmer grip on my bugle, to be ready forany possible emergency, my eyes glued to the scenebefore me. As the two Federals neared the spot, theman beneath the tree arose and Babcock and he ex-changed salutes. The latter was tall, erect and offine physique. For a few moments they carried onwhat appeared
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