Longstreet Maj. Robert Moorman Sims on General Longstreet

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Sketch by Alfred R Waud; Custer receiving the flag of truce--Appomatox [sic]--1865 (Library of Congress)
In describing his relationship with General James Longstreet, Maj. R. M. Sims attested "I... never heard a thing disreputable to him; his character was the highest as a brave and unselfish soldier... and wherever the danger was greatest the old General was there in person."

This newspaper article, entitled "The Last Flag of Truce: On the Retreat to Appomattox," appeared in the Charleston Weekly News and was reprinted in The Anderson Intelligencer., May 18, 1882, page 1, columns 1-5. Written by Major R. M. Sims, Longstreet's Adjutant & Inspector General, the article details the period from April 1, 1865 to the April 9, 1865 surrender at Appomattox.
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At Petersburg, Sims, along with Col. Manning, discovered that the Confederate lines had collapsed and notified Generals Longstreet and Lee who were then sleeping, blissfully unaware. The article also includes the details of that well-known 'white towel incident' - used by necessity by Sims as a flag of truce and immortalized by Alfred Waud in the sketch at the top of the post.

But the introductory paragraph will likely be of special interest to readers of the James Longstreet Forum.

Major R. M. Sims, in Charleston Weekly News.​

It is not surprising that I should admire and esteem Gen. Longstreet to a fault. I served for four years in one capacity or another under his command and never heard a thing disreputable to him; his character was the highest as a brave and unselfish soldier. The hardest, sturdiest blows that were made by the Army of Northern Virginia were given by Longstreet's corps, and wherever the danger was greatest the old General was there in person.

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[The Anderson Intelligencer., May 18, 1882, page 1, columns 1-5.]
Link to the entire article https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026965/1882-05-18/ed-1/seq-1/
Robert Moorman Sims Find-A-Grave memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97571422/robert-moorman-sims
Portrait RM Sims source https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=16721
 
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