Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-28
NO. 81.

tHe fSSue, anu tHeff Hedft3 were running
over with kindly feeling. One man,
Colonel, pade speech to large crowd
Of Confederates. He was big-hearted
soldier, and, with many compliments to
Lee and his men, seemed to be trying to
take away the sting Of defeat from the
crest-fallcn foes. Among other things,
he said that the North loved the South,
and that the next President Of the Unit
cd States would be Gen. Lee. Finally he
said, 1--WE are all o band of brothers
now" and seemed to pause for a re-
ply. A grim, battle.scared veteran re-
sponded in audible tones with an oath,
'If1 had you out in the woods by your
self I'd brother you.D
l have only toadd, in connection, that
this retreat which, in the eyes Of some,
reflects somewhat upon the fame of Lee,
may yet go down into history as the
triumphant masterpiece Of his genius.
The wonder is, not that the army was
captured at Appomatox, but that it was
not captured long before it reached that
point. To successfully conduct a beaten
army, after the stunning defeats at Pc
tersburg and Five Forks. almost as he
was surrounded by overwhelming num-
bers, for eight days, without food and
with little ammunition, is q feat almost
without a parallel in military annals.
And when he at last resolved to cease
the struggle, it was not with eorpor-
aPs guard around him, but q gallant
army of 10000 men. If he saw fit to
forget his own glory and to consult only
the interest of our common country, let
us endeavor to appreciate his magma
nimity and give him that praise which
posterity will certainly accord him,
1t Is impossible to estimate the hero
ism Of his army on this retreat, unless
we consider the suferings they were
subjected to, and above all the suffer-
ings from hunger. know of no rations
that were issued after the 9TH, except
that Of parched corn. This was to Ma.
homes men while halting in the road
under arms. They were not allowed to
stop to eat it, bnt appeased their hunger
as they marched; not irregularly, bnt
by fours, every man IN his place ready
for action.
During that whole terrible retreat
Malone maintained the strictest dicip-
line, though fighting battle nearly ev-
cry day. How the other divisions Of
Lees army behaved in those closing days
Of the struggle | am not able to speak,
but the conduct of Mahone's men could
not be surpassed.
1t was not only that they fought -
well against superior numbers and with
foes confident Of victory, but that they
kept this up day after day, often far in
to the night, suffering terribly from hun
ger and fatigue and seeing Lees army
apparently going to pieces.
To fight bravely at the pitched field,
in the presence of cloud of witnesses,
when the issue is of national pride, and
when, if one falls, q grateful country will
take care Of his family and henor bis
name, is thought not only praiseworthy,
but glorious. What shall we say, then,
of those who not only covered with their
bodies the retreat of a beaten army, but
with their own life-blood kept alive q
dying cause; who nnappalled by repeat
ed disasters, still turned, like lions at
bay upon their pursuers, and who,
though ready to drop from watching and
marching, never gave mp to the bitter
end9 This, indeed, was the achieve
Glent of heroes only.