Excerpt from a letter from Maj Gen Joseph B Kershaw to Carle A Woodruff, dated Camden, South Carolina, 1876.
At Sailor's Creek, Carle A. Woodruff was a Lieutenant in the 2nd US Artillery, Woodruff's Battery. It was Woodruff who met Kershaw and his party when they arrived at Custer's headquarters as prisoners of war. In grateful appreciation of the courtesy and kindness he extended there, Kershaw had given Woodruff "a splendid pair of spurs" that Kershaw had "worn since the first Manassas." Woodruff returned the spurs to Kershaw and this account was written in response. [Just a reminder that the "Corp Lanham" referenced in the excerpt below is most likely
John Pell Laundon of G 2nd Ohio Cavalry. See OP.]
..."Whose command do you belong to?" I said. "To Custer's cavalry," said he; "Corpl Lanham, of the 2d Ohio Cavalry," touching his hat in soldierly salute. Said I, " Corporal, I am Major Gen. Kershaw and these are my men. If I surrender this party will you pledge your honor as a soldier that we shall be conducted to Gen. Custer's headquarters without molestation or insult?" "I will," said he emphatically and proudly.
"Where are Custer's headquarters?" I asked. "They are with the light battery near there," said he, pointing in the direction whence during the engagement I had perceived a very annoying series of rifle shells coming from my right rear. "The general will be there tonight," he added. "Then lead the way corporal," said I, and we rode away together.
Emerging from the wood into the open ground, we passed along the line of a regiment of Union cavalry. We had not proceeded far before a smart, brusque young officer galloped across the field and joined our party. "Who is it you have there, corporal?" he asked. "Gen. Kershaw," said Lanham. This officer then addressed me: "I see you have a sword by your side." "Yes," I replied. "I will trouble you for it," said he.
I turned to Lanham and said, "Corporal, I surrendered to you upon your pledge of honor that I shold be conducted to Gen. Custer's headquarters without molestation and I call upon you to redeem your pledge." He replied, "General, I did make you this promise and this gentleman has no right to your sword, but he is my superior officer and I cannot protect you." I then handed my sword to the officer, after obtaining his name and charging Lanham to remember it. He was Lieut. R _____ of the 18th Illinois cavalry.
Our cortege was then proceeded to the point indicated as headquarters. There was but little to be seen suggesting the importance of the locality. The distinguished cavalry leader was nowhere to be seen; there was no tent spread, not even a tent fly and no staff. A single young officer, sitting on the trail of one of the guns of a light battery, received a communication from Corpl. Lanham, and immediately stepped forward with a smile, half of pleasure and half of sympathy, and addressed me with that courtesy which always characterizes a true gentleman. He introduced himself as Lieut. Woodruff and invited us to dismount. "This is headquarters; the general will soon be here. In the meantime, I will take pleasure in entertaining you."
...[The next morning] While at breakfast, one after another, some thirty troopers rode up within a few rods, each dismounting and aligning himself, and holding his horse by the bridle. Each carried a Confederate battle flag, except my captor of the previous day, whom I recognized in the ranks. He bore two of our flags. He also, as he caught my eye and bowed, pointed to my own sabre, worn at his belt, with an air of pride and pleasure.
My curiosity was greatly excited by this group and I asked Custer what it meant. "That," said he, "is my escort for the day. It is my custom after a battle to select for my escort a sort of guarde de honor, those men in each regiment who most distinguished themselves in action, bearing for the time the trophies which they have taken from the enemy. These men are selected as the captors of the flags which they bear." I counted them, there were thirty one captured banners, representing thirty one of our regiments, killed, captured or dispersed the day before. It was not comforting to think of.
Lanham's possession of my sword was easily accounted for. I had told Custer of the conduct of the officer who had taken it, and requested that Lanham should have it. He had said nothing in reply, but nevertheless had done the right thing. May Lanham's descendants wield that sword in defense of their country whenever called upon as honestly as its old master sought to do his duty, according to the dictates of his conscientious convictions.
Source: Excerpt from the Letter - Joseph B. Kershaw to Carle A. Woodruff, dated Camden, South Carolina, 1876, later published in
The Anderson Intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, SC) February 03, 1897, page 1.
@Package4 do you happen to have, in your collection, a sword attributed to
John P. Laundon, Co G, 2nd Ohio Cavalry? Or do you know where it is? Wouldn't that be GRAND!?!?!?
@Mike Serpa do you know of any other soldier that captured three generals at the same time but wasnt awarded the MoH? It'd be interesting to know who brought in Eppa Hunton, Seth Barton, and Montgomery Corse of Picketts Division. In the another part of the letter, its sounds as if they were all brought in together - possibly with Col Frank Huger. I'd be interested to know if the man who brought that group in received the MoH. Still, seems to me that capturing a Maj Gen, two brigadiers, and a Major would trump three brigadiers and a Colonel, doesn't it?