General Longstreet calls Custer's bluff

[gocav76]

"It was then a flag of truce was raised. by agreement between Generals Gordon and Sheridan. It was then a Federal Cavalry officer was observed coming down the road towards our forces, in his hands he carried a white handkerchief which he constantly waved up and down. He Inquired for General Lee and was directed to General Longstreet upon the hill. Upon approaching the General he dismounted and said, "General Longstreet, in the name of General Sheridan and myself I demand the surrender of this army, I am General Custer." General Longstreet replied: "I am not in command of this army - General Lee is, he has gone back to meet General Grant in regard to surrender." "Well", said General Custer, "no matter about Lee, we demand the surrender be made to us. If you do not do so, we will renew hostilities and any blood shed you will be responsible", "Well", said General Longstreet, "if that is done I will do my part in meeting you." Then turning to his staff he said - "Order General Johnson to move his division to the front, to the right of Gordon. Col Latrob, order General Pickett forward to Gordons left, do it at once." Custer was surprised, not knowing so many troops were at hand with General Longstreet and his ardor cooled off and he said "General Longstreet, probably we had better hear from Lee and Grant, don't move your troops, I will confer with General Sheridan." He mounted his steed and withdrew and when out of hearing Longstreet said quietly that young man never played the game of bluff, for the troops ordered to take their places to the right and left of General Gordons troops, were only make believe soldiers.
Memoirs of David Washington Pipes 1845-1939

[d o harris]

This version is pure BS

[Banned]

pro-Longstreet revisionism. Nice story, but untrue.

[gocav76]

What part of Mr. Pipes account is untrue? The following account is from a member of Custers own command (1st West Virginia Cavalry) Theodore F Lang. ----" But see! A white flag is up. The mounted officer who bears it is coming from the direction of the court house, towards Custer's column. He reaches it at the head of the West Virginia Brigade. Colonel Capehart and the officer proceed along the column to Custer. He said to Custer: "I have the honor to bear compliments of General Longstreet to the officer in command, and to say that General Lee and Grant are in correspondence touching the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, and to request a cessation of hostilities until the result is made known." If that is so, it seems a breach of good faith that they have been trying to fight their way out in the meantime. Custer, his face beaming with animation, gripping the rim of his hat with his right hand and giving it a few spasmotic jerks, as is his habit, replies: "Tell General Longstreet that I am not in command of all the forces here, but that I am on his flank and rear with a large cavalry force, and that I will accept nothing but unconditional surrender." But, turning to Colonel E.W. Whitaker, his chief of staff, he says to him: "Go over with this officer and bear my message to General Longstreet." Becoming impatient, Custer turns over the command to Capehart (who commands the division to the end, Custer's authority having been enlarged, leads in the finale, grand review at Washington) and says to him: "I am going over to see what is going on," following his chief of staff, having communicated what had occurred to Sheridan. On taking command, Capehart throws out a skirmish line to the outer edge of the timber between him and the enemy, which becomes immediately engaged in a brisk fusillade. The advance brigade is promptly ordered to their support; and a charge is on the point of being made. The fire reaching Sheridan's ears, he is saying to some Rebel officers, considerably to the left rear of Capehart's column: "Oh, that's some of Merritt's" (Merritt commanding the cavalry nominally) "cavalry making a charge" as if he would rather fight than not; and a man or two killed of no moment anyway. But the rattle-headed Confederate colonel in front of Capehart, swearing and talking of death in the "last ditch" in preference to surrender, is finally squelched by peaceful means, with the assistance of the same officer who had appeared with the flag truce, and all is again tranquil.

Custer is having words somewhat warm with Longstreet, and more or less suspecting that there may be a scheme on foot to gain time and make another attempt to break the meshes in which Lee is enveloped, and demands from Longstreet immediate surrender or direful consequences; Longstreet parleying and fencing, unwilling to surrender to Sheridan, much less to Custer, or giving the cavalry the credit of bringing it about, only desirous of having it effected by Lee and Grant themselves." ----