The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-09-11
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Striking Scene After Lees Capitulation-
An Anecdote of the General.

Striking Scene After Lees Capitulation-
An Anecdote of the General.
Ii. +. H." sends the Boston Herald
the following incidents, as related to him
by gentleman who was attached to the
headquarters of General Lee in the ca
pacity of Chief Medical Puryeyor of the
Army of Northern Virginia:
The remnant of the once proud army
of Northern Virginia, worn out with the
incessant fatigue and privations incl
dental to their late retreat from Peters
burg, lay resting under the shade of the
trees i'll the neighborhood of the now
famous Appomatox Courthouse anxious
ly awaiting the return of their much
loved chieftain. who, some hours pre-
yiously, had gone over to the headquar-
ters of the Union army to arrange with
General Grant for capitulation of the
| Southern forces under his command.
There they lay, the heroes of many a
hard-fought battle, thinking over the
momentous events of the past few years,
realizing that their labor had been in
| vain, that their sllfferings and sacrifices
were to count as naught, and looking
with blank dismav into the unpromising
future A shout is heard, the "rebel
yell rings out once more and tor
the last time; the crowd rush
! es to the roadside to welcome
back their venerable commander. They
call upon him for Il speech. Slowly and
sadly turning toward them he replies,
81 have not to-day the heart to make
YOU speech. | have turned over the
! army to General Grant You will all
be allowed to return TO your homes, and
! hope you will be happy there Dis
| mounting from his horse he remained
for some time standing under a neigh
boring tree. His officers, intermingled
with men from the ranks, grouped them
selves around him. Some Of these W.ere
gray-haired men, others mere boys
One youth apparently not more than 10
courier attached to one OF the head
quarters, with eyes intently fixed upof
his aged commander, had sunk upon ont
knee, to rest himself, and thus uncon
sciously assumed an attitude Of silen
alteration, the whole forming pic
tnresque group. Few words were
4 spoken. Silently they looked upon th'
{ man whom they had learned to love an,
venerate, and with whom they were sool
to part forever. The moment was sa,
| and solemn. Few eyes were dry. Th
: setting sun shone full upon them, linger
i ing, as it were, to bid farewell to the he
role army it had lighted through so man.
| a hard-fought field, and upon which tn
, fates had decreed that it should nevc
| shine again. sag
4 1.-The following anecdote illustrates tn
I dislike with which General Lee alway
: regarded any departure from the rigl
ell simplicity which characterized the lit
e at his headquarters. One of his inspect
n generals, Col. Murray, was quite ae
y yanced in life, and some friend, wishin
: to Contribute to his comfort, had present
IS ed him with a cushioned camp-ehai'
IL Tents had been struck, and the baggga4
a all packed in the wagons, preparator
to starting on the days march; all e,
/ cept the cushioned-chair, in which IL
d Colonel sat, waiting to join the Gener;
d as he passed. A few moments late
d Gen Lee rode up, regarded the Colon
Q for a moment, and then quietly remarl
lie ed: ''Col. Murray, | would advise yo'
IL the next time we start on campa1g
30 to bring your center-table with you. =
is needless to. say that that chair W;
never again seen at the army headqua
terS, IL #TASz %gI