Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1883 — The Last Flag os Truce. [ARTICLE]

The Last Flag os Truce.

Th last flag of truce in the war ot the Rebellion was carried by Colonel R, M. Sims from ‘.he confederate General John B. Gordon to General Sheridan. The cessation of hostilities brought about by this truce immediately preceded the surrender at Appomattox Court House. The flag borne by Colonel Sims was simply a white towel, aad after 'the surrender it disappeared entirely, and vat for a time forgetton in the exeltement attending the last events of the great conflict. Within the present year Colonel Sims wrote the account of the last truce of the war, which waa printed in th# Charleston News and Courier, and the publication of bia narrative has interested may persons ia the search for the missing flag of truce, wbick, it was believed, was retained by somebody as a valuable relic of the rebellion. General Sheridan was asked for information eonoerniag the towel, but neither he nor members of his staff whom he consulted rem embered anything about it. It is in the possession of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Custer, widow of the late General Custer, to whom it was presented by General Sheridan at the close of the war. General Carle A. Woodruff re membered this iuoldent, although General Sheridan had forgotten it. Mrs. Citktsr recentlv{wro:e a letter to Colonel Sims, in which she stated that the improvised flag had been treasured by her with other war relies “It baß,“she added, “never been exhibited or used in any way that could offend the most sensitive epir it. General Custer taught me early in my married life to look upoa our unfort mute war as too sacredly sad to admit of any feeling save that of sorrow and regr*t that one brother’s hand should be compelled to be raised agaiast another.” So ’’hat the flag of truce more than served its purpose