Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-04-07


bly, for snake bites or any other sudden
casually that might happen to the troops
"Well, Dove, before we take the
drink" said General Echols, net me
give you the particulars"
go, General; let us have them
quick!" said the doctor, nervously fun
bling ut the stopper of his eanteen and
preparing 81 cup.
"Well, then, General Lee has surren.
dered his entire army to General Grant,
said General Echols.
Had thunderbolt fallen from the sky
upon the two listeners who heard this
announcement it could not have strick-
en- them more speeches. than did these
few words. The canteen remain ed sus-
pended in the doctors hand. the cup
fell with dull clang against the side of
it, while the doctor mechanically re-
placed the stopper from where he had
taken it, gazing in blank amazement at
General Echols, without speakinga word.
That drink was never taken. "Tes," said
General Echols, in q tone of deep sad
ness, lit is indeed true; our great com
mander has been compelled 10 surren-
der. A scout came through to us last
night and brought mo the news direct
from one of our generals. We have not
got the particulars yet, but l have sent
forward TO learn more if possible. The
troops do not know of this yet, and do
not wish them to hear Of it mt present.
Poor fellows, they will learn it soon
enough. We will go forward this morn
ing to Christiansburg and there deter
mine what course to pursue"
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 a regiment
of infantry. The men were in route
step and laughing and chatting gaily
Immediately beside us four men, with
delightful voices, were singing one ofthe
popular airs of the day. Alas" said
my companion, "if these poor fellows
only knew what dreadful news was in
store for them they would not be SO
light hearted" We were but four miles
from Gnristiansburg and soon reached
the town. The news of surrender had
been received before we arrived and
the town was i'll state of great anxiety
and excitement. 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 fol-
lowed demoralizing scenes, naturally to
be expected under the circumstances.
The bonds of discipline were broken
ana 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 in
to camp just outside the town.
Finding it impossible to proceed furth-
er General EchoIs remained il Chris
tianSburg that night and next morning
called council ofwar. The general Off
GERS assembled in the Court House. The
writer was not present when the coun-
ell was held, but learned from one of the
staff who was that twas an exceedingly
interesting scene. Each commander 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
wherever | will lead them," which
proved no idle boast, for this gallant
band Of kentuckians followed the for
tunesof the Confedera cy, with their
brave commander, to the very last. Fin
ally it was resolved to make a call for
volunteers, to mount such of the infan-
try as wished to proceed on the quarter
master and commissary teams. strike
across the mountains and join General
johnson.
General Echols, with his general of.
ticers and staff, rode out to the comp.
EchOls was not only an accomplished
soldier, but he was an orator. Arriving
at the camp a color sergeant was called
out from one of the regiments and sta
toned on an eminence, with the tat
tered battle flag of his regiment that had
been through many hard fought con-
faC IaIi frln
address to the troops and concluded bV
calling upon all who desired to stand by
the confederacy 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
a crowd of soldiers gathered about the
standard, but the largest portion of them
knew that the end had come and there
was no longer any hope for the cause;
these were ordered to return to their
homes and remain until called for by
proper authority.
The scene wrs q sad one as we rode
slowly back to town. The strains of the
band playing Home Sweet Home"
came waited to us from the distance; the
were engaged cutting to
pieces their gun carriages and caissons;
with broken stocks and bent
barrels lined the roadside, and every
thing betokened rapid disintegration.
Echols, with his small but de-
voted band, start d to join General
johnson. but before reaching his desti-
nation the final catastrophe had come;
the last of the Confederate armies had
sither surrendered or melted away, and
the Southern Confederacy was among
the things of the past.
ORRvILLE, Dallas county, Ala, 1882.