The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-26

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Our torment, our JOY,
'Only boy"
THE CONFEDRACy's LAST CAPITAL.
strange scenes in shreveport, La, I'm
Way, 1865.
rFrst Federal Volunteer, in Philadelphia Weekly
Times
Shreveport was the last capital OF the
Confederate nation. There were as
sembled the civil as well as the mill
fedracy intact. There Sterling Price
called Tom Reynolds "the pretended
Governor of Missouri" and DIR. kava-
naugh called Reynolds "cowardly
deadhead, and Reynolds called Price
ga toddy- slipping bluster.' klrby
Smith was accused OF cottoning the
enemy. both in the staple and the sur.
render, and gave over the command Oh
the troops to Simon Bolivar Buckner.
Buckner and Green quietly went OIL TO
New Orleans to surrender the depart
ment for smith, and Gen. Heron, ap-
pointed by Candy to receive that sur
render. brought them both back on his
steamboat, and also Major General
Brent. now of Maryland. Herron's
steamer was in 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 approach
ed Shreveport on an afternoon In May.
1866. The scene on the levee was 30
tumultuous that even the rebel COM
mander shrank back unwilling to leave
the steamer. They knew that Shelby
and others had revolted against sur.
render, and might attack this unarmed
boat. and their own status was uncer-
tain. Shelby was even then drawn up
on the prairie west of Shreveport earn
estly debating an assault on Heron.
Price. Buckner and Brent were well
educated, polite men allof some affilia-
tions; they did not go ashore until next
day. Herron's nearest steamer. which
contained troops, was nearly day be-
hind him. In this uncertainty he or
dered the band to play and drove up to
wharf In the view of full 10000 armed
men looking In wonder at those lonely
stars and stripes, and all iabpering In
the Widest confusion.
"I'll be derned," cried one fellow, "if
that amt Gen. 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 sur
you and give you something to eat. My
transports will be here pretty soon."
The man jumped upon bale of cotton
and made speech boys this Is Gen
Heron, You've all heard OF him In
these parts. We've surrendered
IHuzza1 Gen. Herron's here to issue
our paroles and give us transportation
home, and glory be to Godl to give us
something to eat. Immense .yells and
cheers.l l propose three cheers for
Gen. Heron.
That huge coneourse of wild men
swayed and shouted and nearly pressed
Heron off the wharf. A thousand diff
ferent emotions were expressed in their
faces, but chiefly gratitude. Looking
down from the steamer sad and appre-
hensive, and cast anew on the barren
strand OF civil life, were the brave old
veterans Of Mexico, Price, and Buck
ner, the defender of Fort Donelson,
whose accomplishments survived that
humiliation. 1t was the last general
scene in the rebellion. Dick Taylor
had surrendered at Chronicle. Alabama,
MAY 4. and Joe johnson had surren-
dered April 90.
Heron threw himself, with ready d.
plomacy, upon the confidence and CO.
operation OF the Confederate line Off
GERS at Shreveport, and sent for several
OF them by their soldiers.
II am not acquainted here" he said,
''and would you to indicate suitable
building for my headquarters.
They told him to take the bank, and
led the way up through the town of
veterans thronging round and follow
aNow. officers" said Heron, ''let us
help each other to protect the people
and guard these streets. Set your own
guard tonight, 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 soldiery were doing their duty as
faithfully as if they had been Union
regulars. Sleep and security pervaded
hundreds were stretched along side
walks and under the trees, dreaming,
perhaps, the drone Of old Lakewood SER
mons which told OF other prodigals,
crying: 49,,
father have bread enough and to spare,
and will arise, and go unto my father"
Gen. Heron says that the Southern
Union feeling was better at that mo-
ment than it has ever been since. He
began the systematic and long labor Of
Issuing the paroles in duplicate, which
required the assistance of the Confed-
crate captains and adjutants. The dis
tant Missourians were paroled first and
sent home in steamboats,. From the
farthest points of Texas and Arkansas
stragglers came in to get the coveted
mass and discharge. Sixty thousand
men were thus personally described.
identified and fed.