Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-28

The last saw of that farmer he was Sit
ting on the fence, the picture of despair,
while the mule was gazing defantly at
the passing column as tito say, "it there
be any more of you military gentlemen
who want to ride me | am respectfully
yours to command"
The morning of the surrender is well
remembered. Reports of heavy losses
of artillery and trains the night before
were rife. The want of food was very
great for man and beast. and now and
then men spoke in whispers Of surren-
der. By9 o'clock there was firing all
aronn' the line. Our last position was
upon q raised plateau wish wood-osH-
cred ridge on our left and valley flank
ing our right. In 'front.' was another
valley, reaching to the railroad junction
Lee had still an army of about 10000
rank and file, exclusive of the cavalry,
and of these at least one-half would have
dared anything at his command. That
he could have gotten away with con
siderable portion of his troops there is
not doubt The soldiers were not de.
moralized. Many were eager for battle
and even the stfagglers calmly expected,
Lee to carry them Off safely. Being
ordered to deliver message to one of
Lees staff, in the search for him ] rode
across the Plateau in several directions,
and nearly at every point of our line
there was fighting.
The centred of what the soldiers called
the "bull-ring" was covered with the
various impediments Of an army.
Among these were about 3, 1000 prisoners.
The surging mass kept moving around
and around as if looking for some out
let or place of shelter. At last there
seemed to be settled conviction that
the fatal day had arrived, and still
many thought that the genius Of Lee
would yet triumph. saw Custer gal
lop by, holding in his hand a ramrod
with white handkerchief npon it. At
this very moment there was passing q
Federal battery with horses and men
that had just been captured. Two old
soldiers were standing near discussing
the situation. At the sight of Custer
one said: "What did l tell you; look at
that Yankee chap with the white rag.
It's all up with u.s. ooh, that's moth
ing" the other replied; ''look at that
fine battery we have just captured.
Massa Bob'll beat 'em yet"
When it was known that we had
surrendered, there was at first some
dissatisfaction, but sympathy for Lee
soon did away with all individual sense
of humiliation. When Harris Mississippi
brigade Of Mahone's division were in
formed Of the surrender, and ordered to
cease firing, most Of the officers and men
refused to obey, declaring that they
would never surrender. Malone went
and expostulated with them, but they
would not listen to him. Finally Lee
came and made personal appeal. For
some time even his authority was disre-
garded. Many of the officers and men
gathered around him and implored him
not to put upon them such disgrace.
With tears they begged him to trust
himself to their care, swearing that they
could and would carry him through safe
", and telling him that once in the
mountains he could raise another army.
But Lee told them in broken accents
and with many tears, that he could not
break his word; that his honor was in
volvcd. Finally he asked them if they
who had followed him so long and stood
by him so faithfully, were ashamed to
share his fate. This appeal they could
not resist, though with Misunderstanding
sobs they yielded.
There is hardly doubt that this bri-
gade would have carried Lee out safely
had he let them try it. Malone called
them the Invincibles." They were
often selected for quick and desperate
work. / will state single instance OF
their valor. At Farmville, when the
Federals made a determined effort to
break our lines, in the midst Of the bat
tie courier rode up and told Malone
that part of the Stone-wall division
had gwen way and that the enemy had
penetrated halt mile beyond our right
flank. Malone at once sped away like
an arrow down the line. In less than
twenty minutes he returned with Har-
ris' brigade, and charging the enemy in
flank with the bayonet, killed or cap
tured nearly every one.
As soon as the firing ceased many OF
the Federals came into our lines and be-
,..z ~ fro +orr;, m With tho ,nor II, an