The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-26
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
Only a Piece Of Telegraph WiVe.-
A Fragment Of UnwTitten
History.
BY ANNA ALEXANDER CAMERON.

Only a piece Of telegraph wire worn
somewhat, where IL has been bent into
two loops, aud a triie rusty, but 10 no
respect unlike all other telegraph wire,
and yet to-day hts wire Is historic,
Over it, IN the memorable spring of
1868, there flashed the last official mes
sages from the Confederate Government
to General Joseph +. Johnston, com
handing the army Of Tennessee, then in
retreat through North Carolina.
President Davis, and the Secretary Of
War, were at Greensboro, North Caro-
lima, and from hence TO Hlllsboro was
transmitted over this wire the last official
orders of a government that was tottering
to Its fall. A government that in a few
short hours would become extinct and
be as though 1t had never been. save for
the tide of blood that had flowed for four
long weary years, save for the myriad
graves IN which slept defeated valor,
save for the battle-scarred veterans who
would march no more beneath its star
gemmed flag, save for the matches
glory, the greatness, the high heroic
deco, that bad been craven deep on the
page OF history, save for the hearts, Teal
and true, that throughout the length and
breadth OF the land, from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande, were breaking Tor il,
When the Confederate troops were
evacuating Hillsboro before the surrender
the telegraph wires were cut, and torn
down. and the lads secured pieces of il
and carried it home The fortunes. or
misfortunes, of war had emancipatei the
cook and the ladies OF the family were on
duty IN that capacity. Some Of this
wlre-whose historic value no one
thought of then, tor mementoes of the
war were lying around Us "as thick as
leaves in Nalamlros>a, was confscated
and twisted as a handle into the eyes OF
one Of the cooking utensils to save the
bruising # hands al unused to the mys-
teries of pot hook
There it remained doing humble duty
for years, but az time almost impercept
IDLY dritted from sight many ct the me
men oes of The Lost Cause we began
To gather together all that was left OF
those days which seemed dreamlike and
unreal save when standing face to face
TIN something that had been a part of
them, there swept oven Us an agony of
regret that brought them back with a
vivid reality and d~istinctness. though
seen through a mist Of tears
Vibrant with the pathos Of the mes
sages with which it thrilled 10 these sor
row smitten days. 1t Is meet that this
souvenir should take its place with 9TH
ers of a like historic value. Therefore it
now rests beside a lock Of silver hair
shorn from the head of that stainless
cavalier, that peerless christian soldier,
Robert Lee, letters written by him-one
of them amongst the very last that he
wrote In the trenches around Peters
burg button worn by him through
out the war and in all of his battles, =
with parols from Appomattox, and many
other mementoes held sacred for the
cause which they recall with such mute,
pathetic eloquence.
And there, forming one of so grand an
assemblage reposes in state this historic
treasure, this vOlce!ess echo Of the last
orders of the Southern Confederacy to the
shattered remnant of its gallant armies
so soon to stack muskets, and furl forever
the tattered, battle stained, flag beneath
whose stars thousands of the Southern
chivalry had gone down into the dark
valley" and those who came forth un-
scathed from the baptism CT fire, who
half starved, half clothed, had marched
desperate odds for four long years had
HUN W dCt LIZ ~ lCIt SAUL
fee of their storm swept lives. The
steady endurance. the high heroic cour-
age, the answering fidelity to duty all
had been alike in vain, and there awaited
them nothing now save the heart break
of a surrender.
Seventeen years have come and gone
since then. but the memory of those gal
liant men who dreamless sleep from the
''Old Dominion to the Lone Star
! State" and OfthOSe whose heroism grew
but the %lottier in defeat, is as fresh to-
day, and the love and gratitude that we
give them is as true aud faithful as when
into ewes blinded with tears we saw for
! the last time the battle flags floating out
upon the soft air OF that April day when
the grey columns of the Army Of the
West marched away and We knew that
we should look upon them never again
And SO IL Il that AS time goes on We hold
but the dearer and more sacred every
memento that recalls The Lost Cause
and the war worn men whose vaior
wreathed it with such imperishable gloryl
Hence the subject of this sketch will, In
the years to come, be possessed OF much
historic value, though it be only a piece
of telegraph wir9!"
NOTE By coincidence the editor of the
F. & NJ. has the original last telegram
sent over the same wires. 1t is written
on coarse, Confederate paper, and
dated April %, '65.
$50 THE PREsIDENT:--Sherman's or
der to Troops announce general Truce,
pending ratification agreement between
Gen. Johnston and himself-other Off
Gals high Rank-which he saws will
give Peace whole country from Potomac
Ito Rio Grnde. Nj. w. BARR.
Approved, NJ. Fl. CoFER,
Col. s Pro. Marshall
Vain Hope! Seventeen years we have
waited for that Peace !"