Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-19
4 "E& From the Richmond Dispatch.
The Last of Lees Veterans Homeward
I Bound-His Experience I'm the Orts

B"und-His Experience I'm the Orts
Since the War. -, --.s.-- auT
TRAPPING FROM PHILADELPHIA To sAvAN
More than six years have assed since
the surrender of the army of Northern Vir
ginia, and the last soldier of that glorious
old body has just now reached his home in
the far South. The history of this CID
soldier since the close of the war is by No
means lacking in interest, and the story OF
the scenes through which he has passed
las it has been narrated to the writer)
shows his expel ieDce to have been varied
and exciting. I'll ere arc, perhaps, few
men who fought on either side who could
have endured the sufferings. beth mel tai
and physical, which fell to the lot OF this
old hero, and Certainly not Que who luld
have endured the ALI with grs at-r rti-
"a &c or with a more Determined spiIif.
EDWARD UINNINGHAM
is the name OF our veteran. He enlisted in
the Flu guson battery of artillery from S4-
vanDah, Georgia, anl served under the
command OF Lieuttn mt B9auregud, a
brother of the General. Coming II Vir-
81 mia. and being put under the command
Of General Lee, the company fought IN all
the battles which marked the his o1y of
that army. At the second battle OF Man
as les Winnlngham was shot in the face,
the bail passing through his cheek, shat
tering his jaw f, arfully--indeed, marring
the whole conformation Of his face. One
by one the poor fellows teeth cane o0t,
and for iorg time his surgeon believed
them t. be pieces Of bone but the nature
of the wound proved to the contrary after
wards. Lying on the battle field, and un-
able through the agony which he suffered
TO get back to his friends, he was cap
tured, taken to Philadelphia, and
PLACED IN HOSPITAL
under the charge of DIR. " God, of thu Uni
ted Stats army. To this gentleman and
his nurse the war-worn soldit see ms to be
attached, and spoke in glow
ng terms of the kindness received at their
hands. The surgeon, after learning the
nature of bis wound, gave up the ca as
hopeless; but the man was determined not
% die, and firm in this resolve he lived.
From time to time large numbers of our
prisoners were exchanged and joined their
own army, bnt Winningham condition
vas such that DR.. Wood deemed it prudent
20 retain him, and thsre he remained until
The surrender Oh the 10 i Of April, 1865,
when, If he had beCu able. he would have
oeen allowed to leave fir his home on pa
ole, as were his comrades 10 the field. IN
he mean tin.e,
HIS WIFE,
Who had been unable TO reach him on &C
count OF her poverty. remained in Savan-
lah until 10 months ago, when her heart
)ent upon st ing him again, she deter
nine to make final effort to reach Phil
.delphia. Through tie kindly ala OF an
Episcopal minister, OF whose conore3 cation
he was a member, the necessary funds
we're raised and she started IL search OF
lim. Finding the hospital, size W. soon
by her husband but :he Joy OF
hat meeting can better be imagined than
lestribed. There they're NAMED size nuT-
ing him, and paying those delicate Atten-
ions which can only come FRI m a loving
7oman's hands-un'il about ten days ago,
when he determined to make the attempt
RETURN TO HIS NATIVE STATE
nd to those whom he loved, i'll spite of
lis wound, which, after SO long time, i
7as yet unhealed. But for man who i
lad been fed for more than two years
Trough a quill, such tramp seemed al !
oOst impossible.
The day set apart for the commence
nent of the journey arrived, however, and t
heir first walk was to have been to Will |
1ineton, Del ,. but the officers of the com
any passed tie two, free of CHI rye, to !
hat city. At Wilmington they were
iven transportation to BalLim ore. through /
be kindness of the Mayor of the former
ity. Arriving in Baltimore, the two
ravelers we've out Of funds, but far from |
eing ont of spirits, for they remembered |
30 wei the State in which they were. In |
he MOnume ntal City, they were cared for
y the police at one of the S atoms, and |
ne writer OF this notice knows we'll the
TO q sc Al
he next stage Of their journey was to
Washington. To this city, too, the happy !
ouple were sent free. through the instru- +
of Mayor Banks, of Baltimore.
And now, having been thus far success
Il on his journey, and having reached
THE CAPITAL OF THE NATION,
1e Confederate soldier thought that his I
hances for securing transportation from
le Quartermaster General to his home at |
De expense of the Government quite good,
nd accordingly vi-ited that functionary.
ut his anlicipations were not realized,
)r General Meigs at once turned the case
YER to t lie Secretary Of War, ard dire cted
[r, Winniugham to the office of that per
mage. After the usual delay he was
shered into his office and there stated his
usiness. But it was of no avail, for Mr..
ecretary Belknap. after learning that he
AZ !OuSuC III the COD1eQ0rat0 army, tOId
le poor soldier that the Government
'uld give no such person transportation,
Id that he had
BETTER GO To HIS. REBEL FRIENDS FOR
THEIR AID, -
I'd perhaps they would send him home.
eaviug the Office with a sad heart, he was
costed by negro who appeared to be
l duty in some capacity or other. This
diyidual asked him how he could expect
o Government he had fought against to
nd him home. To this and other in
lting questions the soldier replied by
ying that at that place he could not an
Ter the fellow as be deserved, but out
lie he would cool him off effectually; and
he wished for another war,
at he might teach him his place and how
keep it.
Refused aid from the Government, the ;
70 pilgrims footed it from Washington to
.exandria, the husband sore and weary
ID the wife sick at heart and we'll nigh
oxen down. From Alexandria they
ent to Gordonsville by rail, being under
ligations to the Mayor of Alexandria for
Q free ride. At Gordonsville,
IN THE HEART OF THE OLD DOMINION, ;