Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-16

ing to receive the colors of the rebel army Of
Northern Virginia. II was chilly that morn
ing, but you may safely guess we were on
time. We formed in line Of battle, stretch
ing along the south street Of the town from
the bank Of the stream to the court house
three-quaitcrs Of q mile in extent-faclng
north. We were not ashamed to face that
way now. Old Massachusetts to the right of
the line-all that was left Of her -eighteeth,
twenty.second and thirty second; and the
forty. first Maine, willing to follow where she
was worthy to lead, and the proud fragments
of the twentieth and first sharpshOoters,
Michigan, mover behind when bold blow
was to be struck, then the shadowy fragments
Of her once glorious first. fourth, sixteenth
then Pennsylvania on the left with all that
remained to be seen of her sxty.sixth,
cighty-third, ninety first, one hundred aud
eighteenth and one hundred and fifty. fifth.
In the rear Of us Gregorys New York brig
ade of new troops, but worthy. Opposite,
our own gallant little first brigade.
In that surrender Gen. Grant showed
magnanimity that we were disposed to criti-
else. He insisted however, that while pri-
vate property should be respected wherever
it might be, all that belonged to secession
the rebel army, officers and men, must march
out in due ceremony and lay down their
tion of our troops. As we stand there in the
morning mist, we see the rebel army break
ing camp, and then slowly and reluctantly
forming line for the last time. And now IL ey
move-the great mass breaking into a column
Of march Gen. Gordon, with the Stonewall
jackson corps, then Longstreets corps, then
Hills corps, commanded by Heath. On they
came, the rebellion battle flags with the dag.
onal cross and the thirteen stars. The head
of the rebel column comes opposite our right,
and at the bugle signal we come to the "car-
ry arms The rebel commander, Gen. Cor
don, at the head of the column, observes this
little courtesy and drops the point of bis
sword and gives the command to carry"
Not a sound from the trumpet nor roll of
drum, but in stiffness as if indeed the dead
we're passing there-thus they moved. Then
they stacked arms and took of their cart
ridge boxes and laid them on the pile. Last
ly, painfully, they furled their battle flags
and laid them in the dust SOME kneeing
down over them and kissing them with burn
ing tears. And then the star-spangled ban
nor waved alone upon the field. Thus, all
day long, division after division comes, goes
through the ceremony, and passes on. Hav-
ing been stripped of citizenship, and giving
their honor never to raise arms again, they
can go where they will. Meantime, all day,
no tsunt, no cheer, nor whisper of vain glo-
ry escapes a single man of ours. There was
something like half-fraternal feeling toward
these men. We were fellow. soldiers at last
Whoever had made the war, we had ended it,
On the morrow, along the hillsdes, what a
contrast, indeed Singly, or in groups, on
foot, on horse, are those men making their
way, every one for his far-away home, and
we are left alone and lonesome. When we
took up our weary march homeward, it was
dull to plod on without skirmishers ahead
1t was tame, too, that where the road ended
no pickets were placed, and our peace was
not to be disturbed by the leaden songsters
1t seemed waste of opportunity that upon
the march, when we entered a valley no bat
terry belched upon us from the heights be-
yond