The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-07-01
LEE IN TEARS AT APpOMArTOX.

tho Southern Historical Society.]
When it was konwn that we had sur
rendered, there was at first some dissat- |
isfaction, but sympathy for Lee soon did |
away with all individual sense of
humiliation. When Harris Missis-
sippi brigade of Mahonc's division
were informed of the surrender, and
ordered to cease firing, most OF the Off
GERS and men refused to obey, declaring
that they would never surrender. Ma
hone went and OK postulatcd with them
but they would not listen 10 him.
Finally Leo came and made a personal |
appeal. For some time even his au-
thority was disrcgardcd. Many Of the
officers and men gathered around him
and implorcd him not to put upon them
such disgrace. With tears they begged
him to trust himself TO their care,
swearing that they could carry him
through safely. and telling him that
once in the mountains he could raise
another army.
But Lee told them with broken ac-
cents and with many tears that he
could not break his word that his hon
or was involved. Finally he ask ed
them if they who had followed him so
long and stood by him SO faithfully
were ashamed to share his fate. This
with Misunderstanding sobs they yielded.
There is hardly doubt that this
brigade would have carried Lee out
safely had he let them try it. Malone
called them the "Invinciblcs." They
were often selected for quick and dos
peratc work. l will state Il single in
stance of their valor. At Farmvillc,
when the Fcderals made Il determined
effort to break our lines, in the midst of
the battle IL courier rode up and told
Malone that a part of the Stoncwall
division had given way and that the
enemy at this point had penetrated
half Il mile beyond our right flank.
Malone ut once sped away like an
arrow down tho line. In less than
twenty minutes he returned with
Harris's brigade, and charging the
enemy in flank with the bayonct killed
soon as the firing ceased many OF the
Fedcrals came into onr lines ana began
to rratcrni"c with the men. In order
to carry home some relic of the surrcn-
der, they snapped knives or anything
they had for the old plumber of the
Confctterates. Some eft the fattcr, alive
to the situation, having exhausted
their Observation-Disclosures, went about seeking
to replenish it, and hence there arose
quite Il brisk demand for old papers,
combs, etc.
The tctlcrals seemed ovcrjny cd at lhc
issue, and, their hearts were running
over with kindly feeling. One man,
Il colonel, made il speech to large
crowd OF Conlcdcratrs. lie WAS Il big
hearted soldier ,and: with many cont
plfmcnts to Leo and his men, seemed
to be trying to take away the sting of
L. l. IL,
Among other things he said that the
North loved the South, and that the
next president of the United States
would be General Lee. Finally, he
said: awe arc all Il baud Of brothers
now" and seemed to pause for Il reply
a grim battlc-scarrCd veteran res
pended in audible tones and with an
oath: elf l had you out in the woods
by yourself Pd brother you.'
! have only to add, in conclusion,
that this retreat, which in the Dyes 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 this army
was captured at AppomatoN, but that
it was not captured long before il reach
ed that point. TO successfully conduct
4 beaten army, altcf inc stunning DC
Tcats at Petersburg and. Five Forks,
almost as he was surrounded by over
numbers, for eight days,
without food and with little ammuni-
ion, is feat almost without Il parallel
N military annals. And when he at
asst resolved to cease the struggle, it
vas not with Il cofporars guard around
him, but 4 gallant army of 1900 men.
II he saw fit to forget his own glory
md to consult only the Interests of our
common country, let us cndcavor TO APP
orcciatc his magnnnimity and give him
hat praise which postcrity will cor
ainIy accord him.
1t is impossible to estimate the hero !
SIN of his army on this retreat, unless
We consider the sUflcringS they were
ubjectcu to, and above all the suffer-
ngs from hunger, know of no rations
hat were issued after the 9th, except
hat of parchCd corn. This was to
Nahone'S men while ialting in the
Dad under arms. They were not al
owed TO stop To cat ii, but appeascd
heir hunger AS they marched; not
but by fours, every NAH in
his place ready for action.