An officer rode out from it, followed by two privates.
Approaching the Major, he said, "Who is in command this force ?" The Major replied: "I am." "Then, Sir, I demand your sword." "What is your rank, Sir!" "I am Adjutant of the Sixty-fourth Virginia." The punctillious soul of the old "Regular"-- for such the Major was swelled up instantly, and he answered: "By -- -, sir, I will never surrender to my inferior in rank!" The Adjutant reined his horse back.

His two followers leveled their pieces at the Major and waited orders to fire.

They were covered by a dozen carbines in the hands of our men.

The Adjutant ordered his men to "recover arms," and rode away with them.

He presently returned with a Colonel, and to him the Major handed his saber.
As the men realized what was being done, the first thought of many of them was to snatch out the cylinder's of their revolvers, and the slides of their carbines, and throw them away, so as to make the arms useless.
We were overcome with rage and humiliation at being compelled to yield to an enemy whom we had hated so bitterly.