The weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1883, 1883-05-02

port at headquarters auu cuSakcu IA oAA
manner of surmises as to what our move
ments would be. A little before daylight
we came in sight of the camp fires of our
army. The men were beginning to be
astir, but nothing indicated special pre-
paration or unusual movement.
II wonder what Echols wants with
us?" said the doctor.
eve will soon find out, I replied, "for
yonder, 1 expect, is headquarters," point
ing to a large house standing prominently
out on the landscape, and sure enough it
was. As we rode up to the mansion we
distinguished through the gray of the
breaking dawn the tall, commanding
figure of General Echols standing alone
before the door.
ECHOLs HAS HIS JEST.
"Ah! Dove, you are just in time to hear
the glorious news" exclaimed the Gen
eral, as we rode up. General Echols
would have his jest even under the most
adverse circumstances.
"What is it, General? Let us hear it,"
said the doctor.
"Why, General Grant has surrendered
his entire army to General Lee"
DR.. Dove was Of an excitable and i'm
pulsive nature.
"Great heavens" he exclaimed, lis it
possible? General, we must take drink
on that"
Now, the doctor, like many of the med
ical staff, as every old soldier knows, in
addition to his lancet and handy tour
nequent, had slung about him canteen
of good brandy, carried presumably for
snake bites or any other sudden casualty
that might happen to the troops.
"Well, Dove, before we take the drink"
said General Echols, "let me tell you the
particulars"
"Do, General; let us have them quick"
said the doctor, nervously fumbling at
the stopper of his canteen and preparing
a cup.
"Well, then, General Lee has surrend-
cred his entire army to General Grant"
said General Echols.
LIKE THUNDERBOLT.
Had thunderbolt fallen from the sky
upon the two listeners who heard this
announcement it could not have stricken
them more speechless than did these few
words. The canteen remained suspended
in the doctors hand, the cup fell with
dull clang against the side of it, while
the doctor mechanically replaced the
stopper from where he had taken it, gaz-
Ing in blank amazement at General
Echols, without speaking a word. That
drink was never taken. "Yes,' said
General Echols, in tone Of deep sadness,
"it is indeed true; our great commander
has been compelled to surrender. A
scout came through to us last night and
brought me the news direct from one Of
our generals. We have not got the par
ticulars yet, but l have sent forward to
learn more, if possible. The troops do
not know of this yet, and I do not wish
them to hear of it at present, Poor fel-
lows, they will learn it soon enogh. We
will go forward this morning to Chris
tiapshurg and there determine what
course to pursue.'
| THE TROOPS HEAR THE NEWS.
In short time the camp was all astir
and the troops were quickly on the
march, The writer rode, with another
member of the staff, beside regiment of
infantry. The men were in route step
and laughing and chatting gaily. Imme-
diately beside us four men, with delight
full voices, were singing one of the popu-
lar airs OF the day. "Alas," said my COM
panion, "if these poor fellows only knew
what dreadful news was In store for
them they would not be SO light-heart-
ed." We were but four miles from Chris
tiansburg and soon reached the town.
The news of the surrender had been re-
ceived before we arrived and the town
was in state of great anxiety and excite
ment. Of course it was now impossible,
any longer, to keep the sad intelligence
from our troops. The news flew from
mouth to mouth, and then followed de-
moralizing scenes, naturally to be expect
ed under the circumstances. The bonds
of discipline were broken and some Of
the reserves threw away their guns and
started for their homes; the great body,
however, of the veteran regular troops
remained .steadfast to the last, until
formally discharged, going into camp
Just outside the town.
Finding it impossible to proceed fur
ther General Echols remained in Chris
tiansburg that night and next morning
called council of war. The general
officers assembled in the court house.
The writer was not present when the
council was held, but learned from one Of
the staff who was that it was an exceed
ingly interesting scene. Each comman-
der was asked whether his men could be
relied upon for further service. When
the question was propounded to General
Duke he replied. "My men will go where
ever will lead them," which proved nc
idle boast, for this gallant band of Ken
tuckians followed the fortunes of the
Confederacy, with their brave comman-
der, to the very last. Finally it was re-
solved to make call for volunteers, to
mount such of the infantry as wished to
proceed on the quartermaster and COM
missary teams, strike across the noun
tains and join General johnson.
General Echols, with his general
officers and staff, rode up to the camo
Echols was not only an accomplished
soldier, but he was an orator. Arriving
at the camp color sergeant was called
out from one of the regiments and sta.
toned on an eminence, with the tattered
battle-fag of his regiment that had been
through many a hard fought contest
Echols then delivered a glowing address
to the troops and concluded by calling
upon all who desired to stand by the
Consederacy to the last to rally around
the flag. A band stationed near struck
up, for the last time, Dixie. the troops
responded with wild cheer and crowd
of the soldiers gathered about the stand
ard, but the largest portion of them