On East White Street in Rock Hill between Stonewall Street and Jones Avenue next to the railroad tracks there is a historical monument marking the "Sims Home Site." The citation begins: "Near this spot stood the Rock Hill resident of Robert Moorman Sims, Captain, C.S.A., who on April 9, 1865, carried the flag of truce which led to the surrender of Lee's forces at Appomatox."

Sims was a member of Gen. James Longstreet's staff when he was ordered to, at General Lee's request, to inform General Gordon that peace talks were in progress and to stop firing. This mission accomplished, Sims was sent to inform the federal troops of the truce. The only "white flag" Sims had was a white towel edged in red that cost him $40 in Confederate money in Richmond. He put the towel on the tip of his sword and held it aloft as he rode into Federal lines to locate either Gen. U.S. Grant or Gen. Phil Sheridan.

Instead, Capt. Sims encountered Gen. George Custer, who demanded unconditional surrender--a breach of military etiquette, for Lee and Grant were already negotiating. A federal officer "borrowed" the white towel and General Custer took it as a trophy of war.

Robert M. Sims was born in Fairfield County, but was reared in Lancaster county. He graduated from the Citadel in 1856, returning to Lancaster to be a planter. The 1860 census showed him as worth more than $50,000, including the value of 21 slaves.

When the war broke out, Sims enlisted as a first sergeant in Col. John D. Wylie's 9th S.C. Vol. Regt. Sims was wounded at the Battle of Antietam in 1862 and transferred to Micah Jenkins' staff as an inspector general. He was promoted to captain in December 1864 after being assigned to General Longstreet's staff.

After the war, Sims returned to Lancaster County as a planter in the Waxhaws where he also served as ruling elder of the Waxhaw Presbyterian Church. Sims was also politically active. He was senator from Lancaster County, 1868-70. He moved to Rock Hill and was intendant (mayor) in 1873 (a fact not mentioned on his Rock Hill marker). Sims also was principal of the Rock Hill Male Academy and a trustee of the Yorkville Female Academy.

Sims campaigned for Wade Hampton in 1876, and was South Carolina Secretary of State, 1876-1880. The beautification of the State House grounds was a major project of Sims. Intensely interested in agriculture and horticulture, Sims was elected president of the South Carolina Horticultural Society in 1882.

In 1885, Pres. Grover Cleveland appointed Sims as an inspector of the Charleston Customs House. After four years, he returned to Columbia where he built a home in the Shandon section. The Sims house and part of his acreage are today on the property of Epworth Orphanage, a children's home owned by the South Carolina United Methodist Church.

Robert M. Sims married twice. His first wife was Catharine C. Lucky of Mecklenburg Co. N.C. They had two children. She died in 1867 and was buried at Six Mile Presbyterian Church in upper Lancaster County. He married Ada Walton Sims of Columbia in 1869 and they had at least 6 children. After Sims' death, she and three of the children moved to California.

Sims died at his Columbia home December 9, 1898 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery. At the time of his death, his white towel, or "flag of surrender," was in the possession of the widow of Gen. George Custer. (Custer was killed in 1876 in the Battle of Little Big Horn.) Some time after Mrs. Custer's death, the towel was acquired by the Smithsonian.