National Republican., 1883-09-07

provisions to 20 round. So that there was some
what of excitement, rs for lottery. Tho
commissaries wore confident faces, each one
endeavoring to do his levol best in obtaining
all he could for his own corps. Tho commit
toemen at the depots, however, wore anything
but cheerful faces, for the last box had
arrived aud on computation 1t was ascer-
tanned that thOTo wore not provisions enough
OH hand to feed ono-twentieth of the army.
Here was serious dilemma. The troops
worc doscrting rapidly, their hopes of a feast
had boon excited, and it was Of the utmost
Importance that their morale should not be
further lowered by disappointment.
As tho best that could be done under the
circumstances it was Mt length determined
that proportionatu amount be sent to each
regiment, aud that the men be allowed TO
dispose Of tho amount of provision as they
might SOC at, either by lottery or otherwise.
Whom the commissaries returned with their
quotas q disappointment almost too deep for
expression broodod over the camps and 1t
was only by the arguments and strenuous ex-
ertons of the officers that serious conse-
quenccs were averted. To give an idea of the
quantity Of provisions distributed, one bat.
TALON of $50 men, which obtained its full
share, were furnished with three turkeys,
two hams, two bushels of potatoes and turnips
and about dozen heads of cabbage
not enough, by tho way to afford q
square meal to n single company. The only
way to distribute the amount received was by
rattle, and even conceding the selfshness of
enjoy their good luck when they remembered
tho hungry eyes Of their comrades in the
battalion fixed upon them.
To such pass had the people of Virginia
been brought. that they could not muster
sufficient provisions to afford one meal to
those who represented them on the battle
field Thoro is ono telling episode connected
-. AI,,N !, 1a.y ~ h..
not got hold of or have entirely ignored.
Ton New Years night, 1865, an armed body
Of about 500 men, among whom were COM
missioncd officers in disguise, left their posts
on the advanced lines of works, and, march,
| ing into Petersburg overpowered the guard
at the government mills which were within
300 hundred yards of Gen. Lees headquar-
ters and proceeded to help themselves to
the grain and -four stored there for an emer-
gency. The mutinecrs had cut OFF the bar
rels of their rifles so as to make blunder-
buses of them, and hiding them under
their coats had been able by twos aud
threes to pass the rear line and reu-
devious at the mills, which were
situated in Bandford, q suburb of Petersburg,
as above stated. Fortunately before matters
had proceeded to any great length, the com
mandant of prisons, Capt. Chas. A. Davidson
(now dead also was notified, and he marched
with strong detachment of the provost
guard (the Irish battalion) to the scene OF
action. Davidson was judicious and deter
mined officer, and after leading his men to the
door of the mills he held parley with the
mutineers. For long time they were deaf
to all remonstrances, urging that they were
starving and might just as we'll die by bullet
and bayonet as by starvation. But Davidson
in an eloquent and feeling harangue sue
ceeded in gaining an ascendancy over the
greater portion of the mob, and seizing the
proper moment ho made a dash with o por'
tion of his command, and after brief strug-
gle, in which dozen or more on both sides
were injured, succeeded in arrestng the ring
| leaders 1.-TWO of them commissioned oflicers)
and dispensing the remainder.
| Gen. Lee was well aware to what extremi-
ties these men were reduced to induce them
| to act thus mutinously, and the matter was
| hushed up as soon as possible, and not one OF
| the parties engaged in the raid suffered any
punishment with the exception of the ring.
| leaders, who were imprisoned for a short time
| until the affair blew over These troops who
| acted thus were not conscripts, but veterans
men who had stood up stoutly in many bat
tle--and it may well be seen that nothing but
extreme privatiou could have so far made
| them ignore their discipline and their duty
| to their country.
Such was the last New Years day that
shone upon the army of northern Virginia a
| an organized body. ~ -t1, p.
1t is to the credit of the army of nortbarr
Virginia, that despite their protracted suffer
ings of which this New Years incident
affords passing picture, and the losses o
battle, out of an army of $4,000 men, Gen
Lee was able to muster 25,000 (armed and un
armed) ut the surrender at Appomattox. Thi
| fact speaks volumes for the patience, tenacity
and endurance of the American people, and Il
a subject of proper pride to any citizen nc
matter on which side he fought, or what may
be his convictions upon the questions at issue
in the contest.