The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-12-06

Men who had fought throughout the war,
and knew what the agony and humiliation
of that moment must be to him, strove
with refinement of usefulness and ten
desness which he alone could fully appre-
ciate, to Tighten his burden and mitigate his
pain. With tears pouring down both
cheeks, Gen. Lee at length commanded
voice enough to say Men, we have fought
through the war together. l have done the
best that could for you" Not an eye
that looked on that scene was dry. Nor
VS. this the emotion Of sickly sentimental
!, Is, but of rough and rugged men, familiar
with hardship, danger and death in thou
sand shapes, mastered by sympathy and
feeling for another, which they never expe-
rienced OH TIER own account. I know Of
no other passage Of military history SO
touching, unless in spite of the melo-dra-
matic coiorins WHICH French historians
lave loved to shed over the scene, it can be
found in the Adiegx de Foatain-bleau.
| Il remains for me briefly to notice the
last parade of an army whereofthe exploits
will be read with pride so long as the En-
iglish tongue is spoken. In pursuance Of
OH arrangement Of the six commissioners,
the Confederate army marched by divisions,
on the morning Of April the 18th, to a spot
on the Appomattox Court House, where
they stacked arms and deposited accoutre-
ments. Upon this solemn occasion Major
General Gibbon represented the United
States authorities, With the same exalt-
ed and conspicuous delicacy which he had
exhibited throughout these closing scenes,
Gen. Grant was not again visible after his
! final interview with Gen. Lee. About
/ 1890 Confederates marched with their mus,
kets in their hands and they were followed
by about $4,000 unarmed stragglers, who
claimed TO be included in the capitalization.
Each Confederate soldier was furnished
with printed form Of parole, which was fll-
ed up for him by his own officers, and a du-
plicate handed to designated Federal Of
fcer. BY the evening Of the 18th the pa
roles were generally distributed, aud the
lisbanded men began to scatter through
the country. Hardly one of them had a
falthing of money. Some Of them had
| from l 800 to 1000 miles to travel, over q
country of which the scanty railroads were
utterly annihilated. Many an interesting
diary Of the adventure Of these individuals
as they joqrneyed from Eastern Virginia to
Western Texas, or possibly to Mexico
may we'll have been written, 1t is to be
hoped that one or two such will yet be civ
en- to the world.
Shortly after aoan on the 18th, Gen. Lex
escorted by guard Of honor Of Fedora
cavalry, mounted his horse for the last tins
+ and started for the City Of Richmond. On
the road he arrived about evening OF tht
headquarters of his " old war horse" Gen
, Longstreet, and the last and saddest Of thei
). many interviews took place. They arr
\ scenes which are too sacred and affectin,
Q for description, even though the pen wer
Z guided by Aacaulay or a Hoffman. ]
|. lever there were two genuine, simple minde'
{ men upon earth to whom ANYTHING nelo
/ dramatic or theatrical is utterly aBhoren1
t they are the men of whom / am now writ
r ing. / close this brief chronicle with tn
Q remark that in proportion to the reader
!. estimate of the sustained henoism wit
eI which Lee and Longstreet, for four veal
l. bore up and stood erect under s4ch bu
n den as never yet was laid upon man, will b
y his appreciation Of the circumstances an
:. emotions under which their parting int
i, view took place. Francis LAWLEY.