The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-21

de Fentainbleau.
It remains for me briefly to notice the last
parade of an army whereof the exploits will be
read with pride SO long as the English ton que
is spoken. In pursuance of an arrangement Of
the six commissioners, the Confederate army
marched by divisions, or the morning of April
the 18th, to spot on the Appomattox Court
| House, where they stacked arms and deposited
accoutrements. Upon this solemn occasion
| Major General Gibbon represented the United
States authorities With the same exalted and
cons picuous delicacy which he had exhibited
throughout these closing scenes, Gen Grant was
not again visible after his final interview with
| Gen Lee. About 1900 Confederates marched
with their muskets in their hands, and they
were followed by about 1000 unarme1 strag-
glers, who claimed to be included in the capitu-
lation. Each Confederate soldier was furnished
with printed form of parole, which was filled UP
for him by his own officers, and duplicate
handed to designated Federal officer. BY the
| evening of the 18th the paroles were generally
distributed, and the disbanded men began to
scatter through the country. Hardly one of
them had a farthing of money. Some of them
had from 1,500 to 1000 miles to travel over a
country of which the scanty railroads were ut
terly annihilated. Many an interesting diary of
the adventures of these individuals, as they
journeycd from Eastern Virginia to Western
Texas, or possibly to Mexico, may well have
been written. 1t is to be hoped that one or two
such will yet be given to the world.
Shortly after noon on the 18th, Gen Lee es
corted by guard of honor of Federal cavalry,
mounted his horse for the last time, and started
for the City of Richmond. On the road be ar
rived about evening at the headquarters of his
"old war horse,'' Gen Longstreet, and the last
and saGdest of their many interviews took place.
They are scenes which are too sacred and affect
ing for description, even though the pen were
guided by Macaulay or Hoffman. If ever
there we're two genuine, supplemented men
upon earth to whom anything melo- dramatic or
theatrical is utterly abhorrent, they are the men
of whom l am writing. [ close this brief
chronicle with the remark that in proportion to
the readers estimate of the sustained heroism
with which Lee and Longstreet, for four years
bore up and stood erect under such burden as
never yet was laid upon man, will be bis appre-
citation of the circumstances and emotions under
which their parting interview took place.
FRANCIS LAWLEY.
A MYSTERIOUS ExPLosIoN.-The following
account is given by the N. Y. Herald of a strange
incident that startled the people of New York
last Sunday, nd by which man named Corne-
Illus Stevens was fatally wounded and some twen-
ty others more or less injured.
A small box containing some unknown fluid or
other subst ance was placed some two months
since by guest of the Wyoming Hotel, Green
witch street in the office of that establishment for
safe keeping The box was a small one, two
feet long by about ten inches wide, and carefully
fastened. This guests name was Theodore Leers,
who came to the hotel on the 31st of August last,
leaving the box in the Office, and taking the re-
mainder of his luggage, which consisted of two
trunks and valise, to the room allotted for his
use. MIR Leers remained at the Wyoming Hotel
until three weeks ago, when he went to reside on
Twenty-fifth street. The express man came for
his luggage, but failed to take away the box.
Upon Leers being arrested at bis residence the
following facts were elected Leers left Ham
burg for this country, on board the ship Donau,
the 21st of June last. He reached here about
the 2oth Of August, and put up at the Wyoming
Hotel, on the 3lst. While in Hamburg, an
agent of the house of Wilhelm Rec, of that city,
stated to him that he could make some money
in the United States by the sale of chemical oils,
and asked him to bring some specimens with
such disastrous results yesterday was sent ON
board of the Donau by an employee of the house
of Wilhelm Rec. This box Leers asserts emphat-
ically that he has never opened and knew moth
ing of The contents further than the statements
made in Hamburg that it contained chemical
oils. The reason lie gives for not taking the box
from the hotel when he left is that he forget it.
He disclaims all further knowledge in regard
thereto.
A Lynchburg, Virginia, letter of October
18th, has the following: GA fine colony Of
Africans hasjus been organized to 60 to Liberia,
under the leadership of shrewd practical
colored man. Among them number can read
and write, and they have supply of good me-