Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-02

heard of heavy losses by capture. Many
gave up al hope and fell an easy prey,
butmany, even when the bulk of their
commands were taken, marched on,
following the fortunes Of Lee. As our
number of fighting men diminished, the
enemy became more and more daring. l
remember that on the 9TH we could see
Sheridan's cavalry on the hills to our
right, while on the left we were fercely
attacked. To show the vigor of Sheri-
dams pursuit the following incident is
added: had been invited to breakfast
on the roadside on the morning of the
9TH. AS it was the only Square meal
taken on thatretreat,it is well remember
ed. The cook was slow in preparing the
meal, and, while waiting, my command
passed out of sight. This was enough to
make one impatient, especially as no
man felt safe then unless he was guarded
by at least a division. But there was
another sourSe of uneasiness. Near the
spot the road forked; anaexamination of
the one Leading to the right revealed the
fact that Nc trains or troops had passed
that way. A moments reflection con-
WINGED me that Sheridan's men would
come down that road in less than twenty
minutes My forebodings were commu-
nicated to the party. Imade short but
solid meal and went off, without any
formal leave-taking. In less thap twen-
ty minutes Sheridan did come down
that road, and laid hands on most of the
breakfast party. This information was
gotten from negro who managed to
escape, and whose master could have
gotten away too, but he took advantage
of the occasion to desert to the enemy.
The noble son of Africa, upon being
asked why he had not deserted, proudly
replied: "When Ibegin thing, most
generally 60 through with it,"
If, in those last days of the struggle,
there were some who yielded to despair
and disgraced themselves, there were
men whose loftiness Of spirit disdained
misfortune. One only will be mention,
ed, Lieut.. James Thompson, of Chew's
Horse Artillery. He was youth fail
to look upon, gay and dashing, the
knightliest Of the knightly, and the
bravest of the brave. | saw him on the
morning of the 9TH for the last time
He had been wounded the day before.
His left arm lay in sling, and he waF
pale from pain and loss of blood. Upo1
being asked where he was going, he sale
he was about to join the cavalry. 'Yol
cannot fight" said l you can hardl!
sit on your horse" For some moment
he seemed to be trying to conceal tn
resolution he had then already formed
At last he said ~ have made up m,
mind not to survive the Confederacy
and rode away, as if ashamed OF seeming
to boast
Not long afterward, as learned fron
an eyewitness, be joined Rosser's brig
5 ade at the High Bridge, and plunge
: into the thickest of the fight. With tn
bridle-reins between his teeth, and
pistol in his right hand, he penetrate
Z deep into the masses of the enemy an
q fell covered with wounds.
= As we neared Appomattox the arm
, was forced to move in more Unite
space. As far as one could judge, W
seemed to be marching forward in an Il
:, regular rectangle, with the main body
central line. The stragglers and unarn
ed men apparently outnumbered tn
central column. At times the rOa
seemed to be entirely occupied by then
and vet there was not once anything Liz
y a panic. The stragglers did not see
frightened at all; they pushed steadi]
" onward, looking toward the mountain
. Their only thought seemed to be to lin
~ something to eat and something to rid
r. While stopping at well IN a farm
o. yard by the wayside, witnessed scel
e that feebly illustrates the fatigue of tt
"a foot-sore and weary men. The farm
IS had brought into the road batch
= mules for the purpose of running the
* off from the Federals.
III One mule refused to bulge past Il
J. ward gate The owner, after many va
y efforts to drag him by main force, CALI
le for volunteer equestrians. Several
T. once offered their services. The foremo
2 p; leaped npon the mules back and
a quickly was he thrown that his risil
I'd motion wasin measure continuous. \
s. other victim and then another was cali
e. for and each SERVED in the same wa
III IT, o-bi1a +l,o crowd Surmo1 rpSnactfi