The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
KICKS RIDE.
Carrying the News OF Lees Surrender to Sher-
mans Army.

by Captain A. j. Kicks, Cleveland, 0hiol
An incident of peculiar interest to me hap
pened near the close of the war, which ia rele
want TO the subiec assigned to me, and may prove
ofinterest to you. On bright day in April. 1865
Major General ]. d. Cox, commanding the
Twenty-third Army Corps, with his staff and
escort, was riding leisurely at the head of the
marching column on the road to Raleigh. The
latest news we had from Grant was of the fierce
struggle about Richmond, its evacuation, and
Lees fight toward Central Virginia. We were
passing on toward Raleigh to prevent consoli-
dation of Johnstons and Lees armies and
though hourly expecting news of important
movements, we had no expectation of any de-
cided victory. As | was riding by the generals
side specializing as TO Johnstons probable move
ments an orderly from General Sherman head
quarters rode slowly toward us, bearing mes
sage. Gen. Cox opened it in the usual manner,
and read it over as he would have done an ordi-
nary official communication. There was moth
ing in the manner of the messenger to indicate
that he was the bearer of any unusual
or important news, and he sat listlessly on his
horse while a receipt was being written for the
message. Happening then to cast my eyes to-
ward the general, noticed his face to suddenly
brighten, and in great excitement he turned
and directed that the escort and staff be drawn
up in line that he might read to them message
from General Sherman. 1t was done in hurry,
and with head uncovered he read brief dis
patch that said that General Lee, with his
entire army,
HAD SURRENDERED TO GRANT
at Appomattox. 1t was the message long looked
for, long fought for, and, though it came to us
on the roadside so unexpectedly, its full signi-
ficance was at once appreciated. 1t meant home
and wife and children and happy meetings
throughout the land Such cheers that rang
through that North Carolina pine thicket from
the headquarters staff and escort of battalion
of cavalary were never heard before nor since.
Before the message was read, General Cox
ordered all hats off and throats cleared for three
rouSing cheers. Our horses reins were loosened
and thrown on their necks and hats were off
as quick as ready hands could catch them. As
the cheers ran out quick and sharp my horse
became frightened and, quick as a flash, he
whirled around, and, before / could gather my
bride reins to check he was at full speed
headed toward the approaching column had
hardly checked his rapid strides when the
thought flashed upon me that it would be
glorious thing to carry the news to the 10000
men of the Twenty-fifth Army Corps who were
marching on the broad road before me all I'M
conscious Of the glad tidings that awaited them
1t needed no second thought Squirting up and
giving free reinS TO the excited horse, he flew
over the ground Ikea bird, seeming to know that
ride of unusual significance was before him.
Soon | came in sight of the first of the column
Major-General Couch and staff heading the Sec
ond division. They heard our cheers, and, IS
they saw me coming down the road at full speed
with hat off, waving for a clear road by which
to pass TO the rear, they opened ranks TO the
right and left and opened clear passage in the
center of the road. AS soon as ] was within
shouting distance / cried out, " Lee, with his
whole army, has surrendered to Grant; make
way for the bearer of the glorious news" Then
their
WILD CHEERS RANG OUT
TO swell those of the headquarters, which could
still be heard at my rear. But few rods back
of General Couch and his staff was the head of
the infantry column-the One Hundred and
! Eleventh Ohio regiment. The men saw how
| the right Of way had been quickly given to the
/ horse and rider by the general and his escort
| in front of them, and, as ! waved to them to
open ranks and give me the roadway, they
responded with viii, and breaking to the
right and left gave me a strsight open road to
the rear. AT the head Of the column and as
often and as fast as l could repeat it to the
| anxious listeners, with horse at full speed,
cried out, with the waving of my hat, Lee
| has surrendered with his whole army to Grant"
| Onward pressed my way through the surging
| ranks-before me an open road, lined on each
side with anxiousmen, leaning forward to catch
the first sound OF the good news tkey were all
| so impatient to hear; behind me- wild, exult-
anu, InleSCIiDaDle SET OF llG1 suddenly urilES-
| formed into lunatics, If they were to be judged
by their actions, pounding each other with
! knapsacks, waving blankets on the points of
| their bayonets, pounding canteens with belt
| buckles, and making pandenlonum of sounds
and circus of tumbling and vauting. 1t was
news that needed no explanation. 1t carried a
| world of joy and relief TO those brave men
upon whom the long suspense of weary marches
| and indecisive battles was wearing. 1t meant
speedy end of marching under hot Southern
sun with heavy knapsacks and happy reunion
| at home. 1t meant but few more. if any bloody
| battles, with the chances of war leaving them
crippled Or dead upon the field, and the wild
plaudits of grateful people released from the
| throes of war. 1t meant good-by to tent and
camp, and the wild exultati0n of the homeward
march, with
STREETS FILLED WITH JOYOUS FRIENDS,
and banners flauntiag from every house-top and
sages of love and prayers for safe return had
followed them from the first day of enlistment
1t meant no more nights on picket duty, but a
| final, happy reunion around the old hearth
stone, where home and all its blessings awaited
them. Such was the meaning of those brief
words that ! cried out with such wild excite
ment TO 10000 men, and for eight mics
through ranks of infantry regiments, through
batteries of artillery, by the ambulance and
hospital trains rode theone man to whom every
ear was turned-the one bearer of tidings-
whose voice filled every heart with joy and
gratitude. And do you wonder, comrades
when | say to you that / look back upon
that experience as the happiest and most
eyentful one of my army life? / wish | had
the gift to tell you of all its striking points Of
how differently strong men gave expression to
their JOY. Some were too much overcome tc
speak; some shouted themselves hoarse, while
others cried; some were wild with their dem
onstratiOn, while some were calm and thought
full, and secretly breathing prayer for their
safe deliyerance from the long series of dangers
TO which they had been exposed. | must
further tressp2ss upon your time to tell a few
incidents that occurred which are worthy O.
preservation. All Northern Ohio soldiers know
Gen. Jack Easement, of gainesville At The
top of hill, as neared the end of my Ions
ride, l
SAW THE LITTLE GENERAL
: anxiously looking for the bearer Of the goot
news, for, long before / could be seen, the meI
could hear the wild cheering from the head O.
the column gradually growing louder an6
nearer, so that they knew some news of I'm
usual Importance was coming by the hands O
some bearer. AS l came within hailing dis
lance he recognized me, and cried ont: "Ricks
! what is it? For Gods sake, what is it?" haf
grown SO hoarse from constant repetition O
the message in the midst of such great nois,
and confusion that | could scarcely SPEAK
aloud, but, when got near enough, l agar
repeated: Lee has surrendered with his whole
army to Grant" Quick as a fash he CLAIMED