Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-02
CLOSING SCENES OF THE WAR;
GEN. CHEATHAH'S DIVISION AT
aREFNSRORO.
h From The oaluubia Herald.

N From the Oaluujbia Heulds
The near approach Of the anniversary of
the formal surrender Of Gen. JohnstoR's
army viii bring many sad reflections to
those who were present The wave Of sur
render rolled forward from Appomatox to
Greensboro. The lat Of May, 1865, found
the faithful remnant of the Army of Ten
nessee, with stacked arms, ready TO receive
their paroles, and sever forever the assoei-
aiions of four yearS war, unequaled in
the annals of nations for severity Of service
and its sanguinary conflicts. s.-=sts
Cheatham's division Of Tennesseans, who
hadfaced theenemy on every western battle
field from Belmont 10 Bentonyille-w
cannot be said of any other division of the
Western army-never failed to carry any
position attacked, or hold against oyer
Bhelming numbers its line OF battle. 10
every instance, was there 10 receive the last
words from its faithful and gallant COM
mandef, Frank Cheathan. -a.sb1sa8
No more gloomy occasion ever oppressed
with woe and sorrow the human breast.
None but trHe and noble spirits such "a
composed this fragment of 1900, can
fully estimate the full depth of sublime
sorrow that possessed and .oYercame the
soul Of those heroe OF The trtiest stamp.
And these seven handrea a1aa--sorne OF
whom, during the war, had Travelled on
foot aud otherwise upwards of 1900 miles
who climed the mountains, waded the
rivers, horne upon their heads the storms
Of dreary Northwestern Sirginia-who
had, under the lead of Stonewall Jackson,
marched through binding snow-storms
along the Potomac in January, 1862, after
the foe like an infrriated beast seeking his
pTey--who listened to the uprear, and
mingled in the crushing, crashing, mang
ling conflicts from Shiloh to Nashville
had now to part, and many to part that
would never again see each other in this
world. VIII any of those seven
hundred ever cease TO remember their
last encampment in North Carolina
near High Point-alOng that winding
stream, in that tall forest of oaks, with the
plank road passing through-do not they
rememember how warmly the sun shone,
and mildly the wind blew, kissing the wild
flowers into bloom on that beautiful LIST
dav of May? There and then they separa-
ted to go to their homes, they saw their
best friends and loved comrades for the
last time-what heart would not be
softened when ne looked into the face Of
his dearest friend "a friendship formed
during a four years conflict Of such terrible |
suflerings) that he will never see again 2
But the heart whose beatings were true
and he whose place in line of battle was
not vacant at Perryville and franklin |
know how to appreciate the feelings Of |
deep sorrow and despair, that the war
worn veterans of Cheatham's division felt |
when, on that bright, balnly LIST day of |
Nav, 1885, they were declared no longer
Confederate soldiers.
The Old Guard of Bonaparte, or the |
heroes of any other chieftain, show not a |
record that can more than compare with |
the devotion and casualty in battle, of the |
few hundred of Cheatham's division that |
at Greensboro. Whilst the |
army lay near Raleigh, General Chatham |
being serenaded, took occasion to remark |
upon the faithful manner in which his |
division had served the cause-or rather. |
that part that were now with him. Hesaid |
that has division was organized at Corinth, |
Miss, in April, 1862; that the number Of /
men of then assigned him, with those that |
were afterwards placed to his division, to-
gether with the conscripts and volunteers |
that were sent to him, amounted to rather /
more than 1900 men. That by death, |
discharge, desertion. and loss in battle, his /
official papers showed loss of more than |
10000 men, and that he had at present
rather more than seven hundred. But this |
will be fully explained when it is told that
a large majority Of his soldiers had been
wounded from three to six and seven times. |
They parted, and are now scattered and |
pass along as other men, poor, obscure, and |
unknown, and will live unhonored and die |
unsung. Now, amidst the vaunts of the |
coward, and the ratings Of those against
they are silent; they feel that
Appomstox and Greensboro decided every |
thing. They sometimes talk with one |
another Of Shiloh or Chickamanga, and are
sad at heart, though their faces be cheerful. |
Though unknown and uncared for in this
world, will not God be kind and thought
ful of them in another? / think sol
hone SOL pray so,