The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-08-24
THE coNEEDEaAcYs LAST CAPITAL,
Some Strange Scenes at Shreveport, La. in
May, 1866.

FIRST Federal Volunteer, in Pllila. Weekly Times
Shreveport was the last capital Of the Con
iederate nation. There were assembled
the civil as well the military genius of wha
was left of the Conrederacy intact There
Sterling Price called Tom Reynolds "tht
pretended Governor of Missouri" and DIR
havanaugh called Reynolds "a cowardly
deadhead,' and Reynolds called Price 90
"a toddy- slipping blusterer." Kirby Smith
was accused of cottoning to the enemy,
both in the staple and the surrender, and
gave over the command of the troops
to Simon Bolivar Buckner. Buckner and
Price went quietly off to New Orleans to
New Orleans to surrender the Department
for Smith, and General Heron, appointed
by Candy to receive the surrender, brought
them both back on his steamboat, and also
Major General Brent, now OF Maryland
Herron's steamer was in the advance 80
steamers in all-and as the others were
deeply laden with provisions, he rode ahead
over the low water and approached Shreve-
port on an afternoon in May, 1868 The
scene on the levee was so tumultuous that
even the rebel commander shrank back,
unwilling to leave the steamer. They
knew that Shelby aId others had ravolted
against surrender, and might attack this
unarmed boat, and their own status was
uncertain. Shelby was even then drawn
up on the prairie west of Shreveport ear
nestly debating an attack on Heron.
Price, Buckner and Brent were all we'll
educated, polite men, all of some Northern
affiliations; they did not go ashore until
next day. Herron'S nearest steamer, which
contained troops, was nearly day behind
him. In this uncertainty he ordered the
band to play and drove up to the wharf in
view of full 20 600 armed men looking in
wonder at those lonely stars and stripes,
and all jabbering in the widest confusion
"l'll be derned," cried one fellow, "if
that amt General Heron up therer'
Heron went ashore, and this man elbow
ed through the crowd to him:
General, what does this mean? Have |
we surrendered ?"
1es,' said Heron, "you have surren-
dered. | 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 Gen
eral Heron. You've all heard of him in
these parts. We've surrendered! [Huzza.
General Herron's here to issue our paroles
and give lis transportation home, and
Glory be to God to give US something to
eat. Immense yels and cheers pro-
pose three cheers for General Herron.''
That huge concoursc of wild men swayed
md shouted and nearly pressed Heron off
he wharf. A thousand different emotions
we're expressed in their face, but chiefly
gratitude. Looking down from the steam
r, sad and appre hensive, and cast anew on
he barren strand of civil life, were the
'rave old veteran Of Mexico, Price, and
3uckncr, the defender of Fort Donaldson,
whose accomplishments survived that hu.
1liiation. 1t was the last general scene in d
he rebellion. Dick Taylor had surrender
d at Cltronelle, Ala, May 4, and Joe :
ohnson had surrendered April &c. d
,5de Merr9n It thTew hjmself With ready diPlo
f the Confederate line officers at Shreve-
ort, and sent for several of them by their
,ldiers. I
81 am not acquainted here" he said, v
and would like you to indicate a suitable v
uilding for my headquarters. il
They told him to take the bank and led v
ay up through the town Of Is, 000 inhabi- e
Ints, the ragged rebel veterans thronging
,,,nd and following. e
"Now, officers" said Heron, "let US i
elp each other to protect the people and .
uard these streets. Set your own guards @
might and let us close up this war credit
bly, to both armies" t
That night, very late, Heron walked out v
nd inspected the town. The late rebel
,ldiery were doing their duty as faithfully 4
if they had been Union regulars. Sleep
nd security pervaded all places, though =
le weary truants by hundreds were :
,retched along the sidewalks and under :,
le trees, dreaming, perhaps, the drone =
{ old backwood sermons which :,
Did of the other prodigals, crying: Glow
lany hired servants of my father have
read enough and TO spare, and [ perish
18th hunger. viii arise, and go unto my
athcr."
General Heron says that the Southern
rnion feeling was better at that moment
han it has ever been since. He began the
ystematic and long labor Of issuing the pa q
oles in duplicate, which required the as
stapce of the Confederate captains and
diutants. Sixty thousand men were thus
ersona,ly described, identified and fed.