The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-03-11

OF Wnlcn was chairman, anu InOuSn We
differed on all political matters as widely
as two men could well differ, our per-
sonal relations had always been pleasant
and agreeable. Though L had not much
money with me, I proposed to divide
with him, but he declined, saying he
could see his way clear to get to Balti-
more, and when once where Winter
Davis was he should be all right. l
knew what that meant, for the intimacy
and friendship that existed between those
two brilliant and gifted men, 80 utterly
opposed to each other on all of the politi-
cal questions of the day, was well known
in Washington circles. They were
united together by tie which binds to-
gether scholars, persons of similar tastes
and .men of genius and eloquence, and
which even the storms of war could not
sunder. Had these men lived in France
during the great revolution, Lamar
would have rivalled Mirabeau in the
tribune of the national assembly, and
Winter Davis would have been the peer
of Vergniaud, the echoes of whose grace
full, but indignant eloquence resounded
through all France long after his head
had rolled into the basket of the guillo-
tine and his blood ran in the cutters of
the Place de La Revolution.
Altering remaining two days at Apo
matox, 1 was ready to start with my
escort on my return towards huntsville
and Richmond. Gen. Gordon, having
heard of the sickness of his family at
Petersburg, was extremely anxious to
get away as soon as his mission in con-
nection with the surrender should be
ended, and he sent word to Gen. Gibbon
to inquire if he thought I would have
any objection to his going with my escort.
sent as an answer that 1 should be
pleased to have him or any of his friends
for company On the long horseback jour
ney before me. I had heard 70 much Of
his wonderful career as a soldier, that ]
was very happy to have him go along
with me. Gen. Cadmus Wilcox, an old
regular army officer, and well known in
military and naval circles before the war,
and Gen. Alexander, a young graduate
of West Point from Georgia, also joined
us. With these generals came many Of
their staff officers, and therefore by the
time we got started we had quite a Large
party. Our first days march brought US
to Farmville pretty late in the evening.
I took my command directly to the
headquarters of the Union general in
command, Gen. Curtin, an accomplished
young officer from Pennsylvania. He re-
ceived us with the most cordial hospital
ity, and immediately devoted himself to
preparing some rations for his half-starved
guests, and to slowing them away for the
night. The latter was a somewhat diff
cult matter, for we were in quite large
numbers. Beds being scarce, Curtin and
Gordon q think it was) turned in to-
gether, which reminded me of the Incl
dent, 50 much talked of at the time, of
John Tyler and John NJ. Bolts sleeping
together at the National Hotel at Wash
ingtons soon after the death of Gen. Har-
rison, in the spring of 1s41. The next
day we pursued our journey to Burks-
Vile, and from there We took the cars to
Petersburg. We then separated, and
have seen none of the gentlemen since.
except Gen. Alexander, whom 1 met a
few days after in Washington. All Of
these recollections are now extremely in
rteresting to me. Ihad seen the culmina-
ton of events at Appomatox, and I be-
lieve was the only man there ON either
side who was not in some way connected
with the military service. enjoyed my
long horseback ride from Appomatox to
BurksviIle very much. Gordon and
rode side by side most of the distance,
and no radical and Confederate ever
got along better together. 1 found the
general a man of rare intelligence and
great conversational powers, and as we
went marching along we talked for
hours of the incidents of the war on
both sides, and specialized Is to the future
of the country. Bidding each other
goodbye at Petersburg, we each went
our way. do not believe that Gordon
at that time believed he would be sena-
tor in congress from the state of Georgia
within the next eight years, and I Ger
tainly had no idea that within the next
few years I should change my residence
from Galena to Paris. But so it falls
out. And here 1 will stop, and you may
say it is quite time. Not stopping after
having endeayored to give you the in
formation you sought for, have run of
into personal "reminiscences in which you
can feel but little interest.
E. B. WAsHBURNE.