On April 9th of 1865 there was a bright spot in the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. That bright spot was Brigadier General Martin Witherspoon Gary.

General Gary commanded a cavalry brigade under Hampton’s Legion consisting of South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia cavalry as well as mounted infantry.

During the confusion of battle on that final day, a Confederate courier rode between the lines with a white flag and shouted, "Hostilities have ceased. Stop firing." At the same moment a Federal officer (a Lt. Allen) rode up and asked, "Who commands this cavalry?"