his van-guard in the effort to break
through our lines. Not, however, until 5 A.M. of the 9th did Gordon
and Fitz Lee get in motion against Sheridan's cavalry, which they
then found spread over a wide front near Appomattox Court-House.
The battle commenced, the Union cavalry sullenly falling back.
This inspired new hope in the Confederate Army. General Mumford,
with a portion of his Confederate cavalry division, found a break
in Sheridan's line, and charging through, escaped. This gave rise
to a report that the road had been opened.(23)

Gordon pushed on with renewed confidence, infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, first striking Crook and McKenzie on the Union left,
then Merritt in the centre, the latter two yielding as though
defeated. Crook, however, held firmly on the extreme left, while
Merritt drew from the centre to the right, there to unite Custer
and Devin's cavalry divisions, leaving the centre apparently
abandoned. Gordon hastily dispatched word of his success, and,
inspired with a hope of complete victory, hurled his hosts into
the great gap thus made, capturing two pieces of artillery, and
moved forward to the crest of a ridge. But, alas! From this crest
Gordon and his officers saw a new scene. They beheld through the
mists and the morning gray, on the plain before them, Ord's column,
formed and forming, in full array, ready for strong battle. Hope
vanished from the minds of the Confederate generals. The Fifth
Corps, under General Charles Griffin, was also then arriving on
Ord's extreme right in support of the cavalry already there. The
cavalry in the centre had been but a curtain. Gordon halted and
sent word of the situation to his chief, notifying him that further
effort was hopeless, and would cause a useless sacrifice; that he
had "fought his troops to a frazzle."(24)

Ord was Sheridan's superior in rank, but both decided to end matters
at once, so, with battle flags and guidons bent to the front, the
combined forces advanced to their work. Some artillery shots passed
through their lines, but did not arrest them. The Confederates
retired to another ridge immediately fronting the Court-House.
Gordon there displayed a white flag, indicating a willingness to
negotiate. Custer first saw it. He notified Sheridan, who notified
Ord, and the attack was suspended. Sheridan galloped to the front,
though fired on by soldiers of a South Carolina brigade,(25) and
soon joined Gordon. A truce lookin