The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing down on us from the direction of the village.  In front of Crook and Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than that necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear.  Crook, who with his own and Mackenzie’s divisions was on my extreme left covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to contest with obstinacy the enemy’s advance.

As already stated, I could not direct General Ord’s course, he being my senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of the timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front.  Merritt’s withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began to press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them.  From this ground they could see Ord’s men emerging from the woods, and the hopelessness of a further attack being plain, the gray lines instinctively halted, and then began to retire toward a ridge immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, joined on his right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground that Merritt had abandoned.

I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy’s left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front.  As the cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in toward its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this could not check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high ground about half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of Lee’s army.  The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battle—­a heavy rear-guard—­confronting, presumably, General Meade.

I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot for a charge by Custer’s and Devin’s divisions down the slope leading to the camps.  Custer was soon ready, but Devin’s division being in rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the right; Devin’s preparations were, therefore, but partially completed when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, “Lee has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up.”