Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-28
re Confederac,,. La.t Cnri,aI


Shreveport, La, was the last capital of tn,
Confederate nation. There were assembled
the civic as well as the military genius of what
was left of the Confederacy intact There
Sterling Price called Tom Reynolds 1.-THE pre-
tended Governor of Missouri, and DIR. Kav.
anaugh called Reynolds, "a cowardly dead
head, " and Reynolds called Price "a toddy.
slipping blusterer." Kirby Smith was accused
of cottoning to the enemy, both in the staple
and the surrender, and gave over the com
mand of the troops to Simon Bolivar Buck.
ner. Buckner and Price quietly went off to
New Orleans to surrender the department foI
Smith, and General Heron. appointed by
General Candy to receive that surrender
brought them both back on his steamboat
and also Maior-General Brent, now of Mary
land. Herron's steamer was in the advance
twenty steamers in all-and, as the Others
were deeply laden with provisions for the
starving rebels, he rode ahead over the low
water and approached Shreveport on an after
noon in May 1865. The scene on the levee
was so tumultuous that even then the rebel
commander shrank back, unwilling to leave
the steamer. They knew that Shelby and
others had revoted against surrender and
might attack this unarmed boat, and their
own status was uncertain. Shelby was even
then drawn mp on the prairie west of Shreve-
port, earnestly debating an assault on Heron.
Price, Buckner and Brent were well educated,
polite men, all of some northern affiliations
they did not go ashore until next day. Her
rons nearest steamer which contained troops
was nearly a day behind him. In this uncer-
tainty he ordered the band to play, and drove
up to the wharf in the view of full twenty
thousand armed men looking in wonder at
those lonely stars and stripes, and all jabber-
ing in the widest confusion.
I'm be darned. cried one fellow, IF that
amt General Heron up there :"
Heron went ashore and this man elbowed
through the crowd to him.
General what does this mean? Have we
surrendered! :"
Yes, " said Heron, you have surrendered.
l have come up to parole you and give you
something to eat. My transports will be here
pretty soon"
The man jumped upon a bale of cotton and
made speech: Boys, this is General Her
ron. You've all heard of him in these parts.
We've surrendered! (Huzza.) General Her
ron's here TO issue our paroles and give us
transportation home, and glory be to God to
give us something to eat. Immense yells and
cheers.) | propose three cheers for General
Ilerron.'
That huge concourse of wild men swayed
and shouted and nearly pressed Heron of the
wharf 4 thousand different emotions were
expressed in their faces, but chiefly gratitude.
Looking down from the steamer, sad and ap-
prehensive. and cast anew on the barren
strand of civil life, were the brave old veter-
ans Of Mexico, Price, and Buckner the de-
fender of Fort Donelson, whose accomplish
ments survived that humiliation. 1t was the
last general scene of the Rebellion. Dick
Taylor had surrendered at Chronicle. Ala,
May I, and Joe Johnston had surrendered
April 2G.
Heron threw himself with ready diploma
cy, upon the confidence and cooperation OF
the Confederate line officers at Shreveport.
and sent for several of them by their soldiers
Il am not acquainted here, " he said and
would like you to indicate suitable building
for my headquarters"
They told him to take the bank and led
the way up through the town of fifteen thou
sand inhabitants, the ragged rebel veterans
thronging around and following.
Now, officers" said Heron, 'let us help
each other to protect the people and guard
these streets. Set your own guards to night
and let us close this war up creditably to both
armies.
That night, very late, Heron walked out
and inspected the town. The late rebel sol
diery were doing their duty as faithfully as if
they had been Union regulars. Sleep and Sc
curlty perNaueu All Illaces, thouBn tIle weary
truants by hundreds were stretched along the
sidewalks and under the trees. dreaming per-
haps, the drone of old backwood sermons
which told of other prodigals, crying: How
nany hired servants of my father have bread
enough and to spare, and perish with hunger.
| will arise and 90 unto my father"
General Heron says that the southern I'm
ion feeling was better at that moment than it
has ever been since. He began the systematic
and long labor of issuing the paroles in du-
plicate, which required the assistance of the
Confederate captains and adjutants. The
distant Missourinns were paroled first and
sent home in steamboats, From the farthest
points of Texas and Arkansas stragglers came
in to get the coveted pass and discharge. Six
ty thousand men were thus personally de-
scribed, identified and fed PhiLddtlphjd
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