Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/100

 92 Southern Historical Society Papers.

He was a shining example of the influence a good officer has over his, men. I believe almost any set of men would have fought under W. J. Pegram.

A. S. DREWRY, Private Purcell Battery, Pegram 's Battalion Artillery,

Third Corps, Army Northern Virginia.

[From the Charlotte, N. C, Observer, September, 1899.]

APPOMATTOX ECHO.

The Last Volley on That Memorable Field.

STATEMENT OF GENERAL CRIMES.

It Was Fired by Cox's Gallant North Carolinians A Stirring Reminis- cenceLest 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. Metis, of Wil- mington, 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 ha,ve elapsed." In this Captain Kaigler is himself mistaken, for this statement of General Cox is exactly the same writ- ten by him and published, in 1879, in Moore's History of Aorth Carolina.

It was my privilege to be an active participant in that memorable morning's scenes at Appomattox as one of the staff of Major-Gene-