The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-25
The Last Day Q Lees Army.

The Last Day Q Lees Army.
The Confederate my had marched
al night, ~ Friday ght, the 9Th Of
llrli, and ~clntinuedle march during
ne IeNt lay until neiy ,un,e WIN u
ta''e.i an bIvnnacke Tor the mig {. -
tie Nictulty ct Appou tcx Court Il ,usc.
2Ld cons u.ieIAlaJor General J.
: bordon, had the fri when to- troai's
matted and E4rly's | division unier
brig Gen. Walker b Ell three tnurt.iis
81 a mile short If le Court hOu e..
huch of the Confedete artillery d
been Abandoned iuriG the day march,
and much baggage j. royed. Just t
sunset a rapid firing artillery took
place just ;n our from at the Cour,-
house The Yankee Falry had gained
our iront by passing o LETT flank, ID
his was IN attack up, the reserve 80
lli!ery, which nlovedIn front OF the
army Every man ~ seemed to be
iuily persuaded that d gers were gath
ering around us. and vile We lay down
u rest, thought tterly of the NOR
low'
The memorable day >unday, the Oh
OF April, lS65, d1wne,lp on US, aud the
army marched at day rcah, Walker S
division leading the a.aGce. Just t
sunrise the enemy opeli ire uuon lie
DIVISION unGer General aiker. when the
line OF BAIT e va, soon 1rmed and the
sharpShooters thrown ward, and N a
lev minute the fighti became quite
anlulat, q AID the Yanles were driven
back. Eight pieces artillery were
captured and sent tthe rear at half
past eight o'c.Ock. / >, sitting upon a
bank on the roadside, L ing the move
nents IN my diary, wll this artillery
passed me, AMI noted i. | felt cheered 1t
the SIGHT OF IL. Blu in lout ten minutes
the firing had ceased, Id | could see
oar troops N front tall back, and TAX
Il Z up new positions b orl9ades. IN The
rear. \ white flag no'came ont from
tie Courthouse, borncoy a coupe OF
officers, III passed toyrd the Conted-
crates rear; N Il few nlute> one borne
by Confederate officers. fast as their
horses could carry the. Was SEN to
The 1'urt-hou>r. and f, several hours
t.c>e flags continued to rs andrepass.
&c sce'le was exciting eHond descrlp-
ton. Every man seent 20 understand
that the Confederate aay was to be
surrendered. and that u were all to be-
prisoners Of W. There were
many who declared thu desire to be
lea forward TO conquer lie upon the
heIu, rather than u ruuer. l.. too,
was excited and deternned lot 10 be
taken IN the surrender. nd planned an
escape from the field. With this de-
Ir4rnllLaI1hn wont - a..a IN n kpI-
gade commander. C~apt3eard. and dis
closing TO him my pm OF escape.
asked hHn If he thougi | would COM
promise my honor in ne brigade by
such Il step. He reptile Il think you
would better maintain our honor by
abidin. the fate of ur regiment
his answer subdued IL and CONSENT
ed to abide the resuli The morning
had been bright and Ia The sky now
became obScurod by giumy clouds, and
all things around us EpOke sadness.
Men We're becoming operate. Many
OF the officers were breang their swords
In pieces, that they uNlt not be dis
honored by being gen up to the
enemy.
Major General Geoe w. Pickett,
WHO lead the storminocolumn on the
last day III Gettysburg. ore up his flag
ansl hung it over his shtlders. An uu-
lonEcd for event ha overtaken lis.
Ihc bravest aud the b. seemed + be
uunerved at this sad ho. Mems souls
We're tried. Upon gois to the division
ordinance train, L founit its commander,
Lieut.. Powers, sittii in a Wagon
weeping like a child,a al addressing me.
he said: Il have ioug the Yankees
from the beginning up thi. time with
all my might. and nc to submit to
them is more than | carear. II seems
like it will break my he't.' This gall
liant officer had nobly slwed his faith
by his works on many 0loody field.
At twenty minutes pa four p. III. the
seconds corps was formi In solid col
u1un TO hear the terms surrender, and
was addressed by Gen. 1ordon III the
most impressive speech which | have
ever listened. Circuutances gave it
character aud force. ne General sat
upon his horse. in our ont, and with
his hat in hand addreed Us. During
the delivery of Gen ordon's speech
men we're to he seen waping on eser
sue. wen WHO ntUiiC'u utdtH a.
III ny a battle field withIt fiuching for
a moment nat become little children
IL ie Was uow laid IN thgrav1. Its fu-
II raj >oieulnities broketwn their brave
b art. The true hero q weep for his
CO .utry a. we'll as hcbt : it.
Genera. Walker foiIo,d General Cor
don in d short aIire. He had been
brstght up under StonGlil Ia kson, and
believed in every man Glg his duty. |
Viii quote Z parasraLbf that speech:
II have been pleasetath the mani
aud IDLE conduct of mp of YOU" al
,rcSsing his division, = not Of ali
This morning | cou' 4rry but eight
hu dred mu-kets into Nile, and here
are now fifteen hun 4 Of you, who
have come out to surltuer yourselves
PRISONERS Of war. 1ouhave dsgra;ed
yourselves, diSgraced " frie1is, and
dsgraced your COUNT and | trust
every true MAJ viii cav a history OF
your conduct home. anoell it, that you
NAV be dashed around t world by the
whip Of public opinion, long as you
snail STAY above groln'
Night clr1e on. Butwlat a night!
-By Rec. John Paris D., i"ts thap-
iaia ) ith V. {. T., ~ Iris Cdfet.