The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-18
A Record Of the War.

| a COHer 1or the dead Lney make.
A Record of the War.
The following letter, which is given al
most entire, was written by Mr. Jas. P. Haw-
/ kins, formerly of this place, to his parents
/ who still reside here, and afford vivid pic
ture of the condition of things and prospects
in Virginia and North Carolina, in the days
| Immediately following the surrender Of
Gen. Lees army. 1t will be read with in
terest, and recall to many of us the sus-
pense, terror and foreboding Of time that
seemed worse than ever the Gays of actual
conflict, when we could only show our cour-
age by patient waiting for the worst; when
we haG to realize that the old order of things
was gone by, and the new reign not yet be-
gun, leaving us for the time in the midst of
chaos in which things political, social and
domestic were without form and void. The
past with its traditions Of glory and its expe-
Renee of mingl. pride and shame lay behind
us, and the verest optlonist among us dared
not look into the future, as it doomed in
vague and shadowy proportions to our eyes.
The paralysis of doubt and terror, how
ever, could not last long over a people en-
| dowed as ours are, with SO many resources
| and such boundless store of courage and de-
termination. 1t is long past, and we can
| look back calmly from our new level of
feeling and opinion upon such scenes and
"reminiscences as this letter portrays. The
letter is as follows:
DANvILLE, May 18th, 1865.
DEAR MOTHER Yesterday l wrote
father few lines, letting him know 1 was
well, and promising to give you all fuller and
more complete details of affairs since 1 left
Richmond. 1 arrived in Richmond the
memorable Sunday OF the evacuation about
| 10 p. m. Just getting back from Charlotte,
federate States Government coin, found eve
rything in an awfully excited condition,
burning valuable papers ana money at all
the different misunderstanding. War,
Medical, State, Capitol Of Virginia, &c.
Destroying in fact everything that they sup
posed would be Of use to the United States
Government, 1 found that they had also
pressed the company's horses, but they were
tary Of War. went to Central Depot sup
posing I might find some OF the boys going
home and send letter to you ALL but no
chance.
had then resolved to go home by way Of
Lynchburg, but on returning to Express Of
fee, was asked by Col. Burdett if 1 would
not take charge of the horses and two large
wagons containing 90 K" monies in hand
as far as Lynchburg. / at once decided that
had better do it. s. Stiles accompanied
me as driver of the four horse train,
although he at first refused to leave
Richmond. We got every thing, loaded up
and left Richmond Sunday night at u
O'Clock precisely, having five iron safes and
q large lot of books belonging to the Office,
besides supplies for man and beast.
We took the north side of James River,
with two wagons while Col. Burdett, with
four Of the company horses and one wagon
loaded with private baggage for Col. Ould,
Col. Hatch, and Major French, Hamilton and
himself took the south side of the river.
had directions to 60 by LyncLburg, If moi
too closely pressed by enemy. On the even
ing Of the second day out we crossed James
river, fifty.one miles above Richmond, al
Gainesville, the enemy's cavalry pushing
up the tow path of the canal as rapidly as
possible. About the 7th we met with Col
Bled Hartman and his daughter, he walking
and his daughter being with captain, who
had offered her seat l his wagon as near tie
SIS. r. r. as we would go,he wanting to &C
to Lynchburg. When we were two miles
from Appomattox Depot, took two of my
horses and accompanied him there tc
hear, if possible, some definite information
but could gain none left him there and
came back to the wagons; concluded to
make bold start for Lynchburg. We
reached Concord Depot, twelve miles from
there about O'Clock p. m. Met an opcrat-
ing telegrapher coming out, and he informed
us that the enemy were expected every mo-
ment; everybody that could get away was
leaving. We stayed there until dark, when
the refugees, wagons, &C., began to crowd
the place. We turned and at once made fol
| Stanton River, to reach the other side be-
low Campbell Court House, as the enemy
We're in possession there.
| I had forgotten to tell you that we met
with Col. Bullock and company in Cumber.
land Co, where Col. B. gave me directions
to take the Lynchbnry stock with me also,
and the Petersburg horses if we met with
them, asking me at the same time II woald
not take charge and accompany them on
South to Augusta Ca, saying he ''would be
very glad if 1 would do so, &c.,
l came to the conclusion at once that
had better agree to his request, as it might
be OF service to me in the end. When we
left Richmond two clerks, Raborg and Da.
Wis, whom he directed we should leave in
Iyncbburg when we reached there, as he
had no further use for them, but as we did
not get there, did not inform them of VIVA,
he said until we crossed Stanton river al
Pannell's Bridge, when they started to Dan
vile in government wagon train. We in
tended originally to 60 through Henry coun
ty, striking above Danville, butas the enemy
were ahead Of us, we had to turn off again
The road through the whole route was the
worst ever saw, the mud being often above
the hubs. We had to unload several time.
and get train to help pull the empty wag-
ons out, then go to work and reload. Army
wagons, artillery, &C., behind and ahead O.
us. and stragglers by the thousand, just go
ing along, taking all they could find.
beat anything I've ever seen through
the war. About the 10th or llth, W.
heard Of Gen. Lees surrender, and or
the 18th, just ten days after leaving Rich
mond, arrived within ten miles of Danville